Donald Trump names Mike Pence as Vice-President pick

Republican White House candidate Donald Trump on Friday announced Indiana governor Mike Pence as his choice for vice-president, ending weeks of intense speculation.

Mr Pence adds precious experience in Washington politics — and a dose of good manners — to the Republican ticket.

Mr Trump announced his pick in a tweet. “I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor Mike Pence as my Vice Presidential running mate,” he wrote, adding that he would host a press conference Saturday at 11 am (1500 GMT).

Mr Pence’s connections could help ease tensions with a Republican Party still having a hard time digesting Mr Trump and his quiet, low-profile personality poses little threat of overshadowing that of Mr Trump.

The choice has dismayed green advocates, who cite Mr Pence’s support for coal mining and defiance of President Barack Obama’s climate change agenda. Mr Trump has called climate change a hoax.

Mr Pence is a conservative defender of family values, very religious, against abortion and gay marriage, and opposed to the idea of the US taking in Syrian refugees. He has described himself as “a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order”.