In some of the notable exchanges of the vice presidential debate, Republican candidate JD Vance refused to say former President Donald Trump misplaced the 2020 election and downplayed the occasions of Jan. 6, 2021, when a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol to attempt to cease the ceremonial certification of the outcomes.
The Ohio senator additionally declined to rule out difficult the result of the 2024 race, even when votes have been licensed by each state chief as official.
Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris’ operating mate, expressed exasperation and disbelief. He stated such denialism needed to cease as a result of it was “tearing our nation aside.”
The subject of democracy, a prime difficulty for a lot of voters this cycle, got here up close to the tip of the 90-minute debate hosted by CBS Information in New York Metropolis.
Moderator Norah O’Donnell, noting there have been no findings of widespread fraud in 2020, requested Vance about his previous remark that he wouldn’t have licensed the election if he had been vp and as an alternative would have requested states to submit alternate slate of electors.
“That has been known as unconstitutional and unlawful,” O’Donnell stated. “Would you, once more, search to problem this 12 months’s election outcomes, even when each governor certifies the outcomes?”
Vance first sidestepped the query by saying he was “targeted on the long run” and criticized Harris, who he later claimed was the actual “menace to democracy” as he accused her of censorship.
When he did handle the query, he stated: “Look, what President Trump has stated is that there have been issues in 2020, and my very own perception is that we should always combat about these points, debate these points peacefully within the public sq..”
Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance speaks throughout the Vice Presidential debate in New York Metropolis, Oct. 1, 2024.
Matt Rourke/AP
“And that is all I’ve stated, and that is all that Donald Trump has stated,” Vance continued, though Trump is criminally accused of making an attempt to overturn the election. “Keep in mind, he stated that on Jan. 6, the protesters must protest peacefully, and on Jan. 20 what occurred? Joe Biden grew to become the president, Donald Trump left the White Home and now, after all, sadly, now we have the entire unfavorable insurance policies which have come from the Harris-Biden administration.”
Walz known as these feedback “troubling” and stated he was involved about Trump’s current threats to jail political opponents and his efforts to solid doubt on this 12 months’s final result.
“Right here we’re, 4 years later, in the identical boat,” Walz stated. “I’ll let you know, that when that is over, we have to shake palms, this election, and the winner must be the winner. This has acquired to cease. It is tearing our nation aside.”
The 2, in a departure from the civil tone of the night time, acquired right into a tense back-and-forth on the difficulty.
Vance tried to solid election denialism as a problem for each events, making an attempt to equate Trump’s actions to Hillary Clinton’s complaints in regards to the 2016 election (however solely after she conceded).
“Hillary Clinton, in 2016, stated that Donald Trump had the election stolen by Vladimir Putin as a result of the Russians purchased, like, $500,000 price of Fb advertisements,” Vance stated.
“January 6 was not Fb advertisements,” Walz stated, hammering him for casting Jan. 6 as “peaceable” given the violence and deaths.
That day, which started with a speech by Trump on the Ellipse through which he advised attendees to march “peacefully and patriotically” to the Capitol, culminated in roughly 140 legislation enforcement officers being injured, greater than a thousand folks being charged and price hundreds of thousands of {dollars} injury.
Within the months main as much as Jan. 6, Trump unfold falsehoods in regards to the 2020 election being “rigged” and “stolen” by Democrats. On the Ellipse, he continued the incendiary language and proclaimed, “If you happen to do not combat like hell, you are not going to have a rustic anymore.”
Towards the tip of Tuesday’s debate, Walz turned towards Vance and pressed him instantly: “Did he lose the 2020 election?”
“Tim, I am targeted on the long run,” Vance responded.
“That could be a damning non-answer,” Walz shot again.
He additionally invoked former Vice President Mike Pence, saying the explanation he wasn’t on the talk stage was due to his choice to hold out the certification of the 2020 outcomes towards Trump’s needs.
“America, I believe you’ve got acquired a extremely clear alternative,” Walz stated, “of who’s going to honor that democracy and who’s going to honor Donald Trump.”
Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Governor Tim Walz gestures as he speaks throughout a debate with Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance in New York Metropolis, Oct. 1, 2024.
Mike Segar/Reuters
Trump additionally refused to simply accept that he misplaced the 2020 election throughout the ABC Information presidential debate on Sept. 10.
When confronted with personal current remarks that he “misplaced by a whisker,” Trump doubled down. “I stated that?” he responded.
“Are you now acknowledging that you just misplaced in 2020?” ABC Information moderator David Muir requested.
“No, I do not acknowledge that in any respect,” he stated. “That was stated sarcastically.”
Trump has pleaded not responsible and denies any wrongdoing as he faces federal and state expenses for his efforts to overturn his election.
