WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, showed he was fully behind former President Donald Trump on June 13, literally standing behind him as the former president spoke to GOP senators at the National Republican Senatorial Committee building in Washington, D.C.

As Trump ramps up his vice president search, Vance is considered a front-runner to join the ticket in November.

What You Need To Know

  • Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, is considered a frontrunner in the race to join former President Donald Trump's election ticket as vice president

  • Vance has publicly emphasized his support of Trump in recent months

  • Trump says he will announce VP pick at National Republican Convention in July

Still, Vance said he hadn’t spoken to Trump about becoming his running mate.

“It's ultimately Donald Trump's decision. There's a lot of talented people to pick from,” Vance said in a FOX News interview. “I'm very interested in helping him out, whatever that looks like. So if that means I'm helping out the people of Ohio and the Trump agenda in the Senate, that's great. If he asked me to serve, I certainly would.”

Vance joins other candidates on the Veepstakes shortlist, such as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burnum and Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Tim Scott, R-S.C., in auditioning for the role.

“It's hard to run for vice president. I'm not really sure what that means or how one does it, and no one's really sure how Donald Trump makes his makes up his mind about things,” said Peter Loge, director of George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs.

In recent months Vance has made multiple efforts to display his support of Trump, such as campaigning with him in Ohio, attending Trump’s New York City court trial, promoting Trump-backed legislation in Congress and hedging on whether he would accept the 2024 election results.

Vance also appears often on television news shows that Trump is known to watch. The national name recognition from television appearances could benefit Vance in the future, whether or not he is ultimately chosen as Trump’s running mate.

“Senator Vance could be trying to position himself for the vice president's role. He could also be looking at 2028,” Loge said. “Every senator looks in the mirror and sees a president.”

Trump said he would announce his VP pick at the National Republican Convention in Milwaukee in August.