It's True-Vice Pres. JD Vance Made A Surprise South Dakota Trip

South Dakota had a special surprise visit over the 4th of July holiday weekend.

It's not every day that the Vice President of the United States comes to South Dakota for a family vacation. But Vice President JD Vance, along with his family, made an informal appearance in the Mount Rushmore state.

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With his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, and their children, Vice President JD Vance celebrated America's 249th birthday at the "Big Beautiful Monument," Mount Rushmore. South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden and First Lady Sandy Rhoden confirmed the visit with pictures on their official Facebook accounts.

You never know who you will see when you're roaming around South Dakota.

Believe it or not, this was Vice President Vance's first time visiting Mount Rushmore, hidden within the South Dakota hills. He calls it "one of America's great national landmarks."

Vice President Vance says to his X Followers (formerly known as Twitter) that he couldn't think of a better way to celebrate Independence Day with his family.

"I've actually never been here. We brought our kids with us. Usha and I are having a great time visiting one of America's great national landmarks. We see this as a great occasion to celebrate Independence Day."

KOTA Territory News confirms this visit was unannounced. Besides Governor Rhoden, Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun also shared some welcoming words to the Vice President.

“We welcome any president of the United States to Rapid City South Dakota, and especially the vice president. Personally, I have a lot of respect for JD Vance. I think his story resonates with a lot of folks, and I think as a vice president we want to say welcome to Rapid City."

Read more about Vice President Vance's visit to South Dakota here.

South Dakota Is Home to World's Largest Pheasant

Hunters are gearing up for the statewide pheasant hunting season. Thousands of people will fan out across South Dakota looking to knock down a bird or two and enjoy time with friends and family.

Gallery Credit: Randy McDaniel

LOOK: 10 Reasons to Visit the South Dakota Badlands

Returning from a weekend trip to Rapid City, South Dakota for state basketball tournaments we decided to visit the Badlands National Park.

A quick turn-off I-90 will take you into some of the most awe-inspiring scenery.

It's also fun to note that several big-screen movies were filmed in the Badlands. Dances With Wolves, Starship Troopers, Armageddon, and most recently, Academy Award winner, Nomadland.

It's a spectacular park with tons to do. If you're setting out on a hike, bring lots of water and sign the hikers' logs at the trailheads. It could save your life. It's a tough place to survive.

Here are 10 facts about the Badlands:

Gallery Credit: Danny V

Source: It’s True-Vice Pres. JD Vance Made A Surprise South Dakota Trip