Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) quickly became a national figure after being selected as the vice-presidential candidate for Donald Trump, discussing his difficult beginnings and supporting his party during the recent Republican National Convention. After his address, Vice President Harris criticized Vance, arguing that his individual story overshadowed the greater policy effects of a Trump-Vance government.
“It was compelling. It’s a compelling story. But it’s not the full story,” Harris claimed on Wednesday. “Frankly, what is very telling is what he did not talk about on that stage. He did not talk about Project 2025, the 900-page blueprint for a second term. He did not talk about it because their plans are extreme, and they are divisive.”
This week, Tulsi Gabbard, former Hawaii Democratic congresswoman turned Independent, criticized Harris after the VP issued a stern warning about Vance’s allegiance, claiming he would prioritize loyalty to Trump over the country. “The audacity that she has to say this is off the charts,” Gabbard said on X. “She’s talking about J.D. Vance, someone who enlisted in the Marine Corps after the terrorist attack on 9-11, someone who deployed to Iraq in 2005, the same year that I was there during the height of that war, putting his own life on the line in service to our country.”
“Was Kamala Harris willing to put her own life on the line in service to our country at any time in the past? Is she now? No. Kamala Harris is driven by her own political ambition. She’s a self-serving politician who should not be in office,” Gabbard added.
Vance also responded to Harris during a rally he attended with Trump in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Saturday, the former president’s first since the attempt on his life a week ago in Butler, Pa. WATCH:
Sen. @JDVance1 roasts Kamala Harris at the Trump Rally in Michigan ?
“Kamala Harris said that I have no loyalty to this country…Well, I don’t know Kamala. I did serve in the US Marine Corps and build a business. What the hell have you done?”pic.twitter.com/OPokL3o7An
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 20, 2024
Harris and Vance had their first discussion on Tuesday, but their respective teams are still working out the specifics for an upcoming debate, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. Talking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, they mentioned that although there hasn’t been significant progress in agreeing on the network and how the debate will be structured, they believe talks will begin soon after Trump has selected Vance, a first-term U.S. senator from Ohio. “Obviously, we want to debate Vice President Harris because it’s important for the American people to see the contrast,” Vance told Newsmax on Tuesday.
A Republican governor who has never been a supporter of Trump has now offered a ringing endorsement following the unsuccessful assassination attempt last Saturday. Just this past month, Utah’s governor, Spencer Cox, mentioned to CNN that he had no intention of supporting either Trump or President Joe Biden in the upcoming election. However, his stance has since undergone a significant shift.
According to Politico, Cox unequivocally declared his support for Trump’s candidacy when he addressed reporters on Friday, following the latter’s acceptance of the GOP nomination for president for a third consecutive election.
“I am doing everything I can to help and support him,” the governor – who called on Trump to resign on Jan. 6, 2021 – said. “We will still have lots of disagreements, I’m sure, and we’ll still do everything we can to help the state of Utah and help the Republican Party be successful.”
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.