Aug 22, 2024 - Politics & Policy

"Dark and ominous tone": JD Vance slams Tim Walz's DNC speech

Rebecca Falconer

Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vanceduring a campaign rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame in Asheboro, North Carolina on Wednesday. — Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance during a campaign rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame in Asheboro, North Carolina, on Wednesday. Photo: Peter Zay/AFP via Getty Images

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance slammed his Democratic counterpart, Tim Walz, and other DNC speakers for taking aim at him and former President Trump during the Democratic National Convention.

The big picture: Walz during his acceptance speech for the Democratic Party's vice presidential nomination on Wednesday sought to tie Trump and Vance to the Heritage Foundation-backed Project 2025, which the GOP presidential nominee has tried to distance himself from.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during his DNC speech accused Trump and Vance of peddling "darkness" and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) claimed the former president was "plotting again" to steal the 2024 election.

What he's saying: "What so many of the speakers did, including Tim Walz, is basically say that if you want a better life for your children, if you want to vote for Donald Trump to change the direction of this country, you're a bad person," Vance said on Fox News following Walz's speech.

"And I think that's just a fundamental message that falls flat for Americans who have suffered under the policies of Kamala Harris," he added.
"I thought it was actually a very dark and ominous tone where they attacked Donald Trump, and they attacked the people who voted for him rather than offer a compelling vision for the future."

Zoom in: Fox News' Bret Baier asked Vance if he and Trump would repeal the Affordable Care Act if elected in November, as Waltz had suggested. "No, Bret, of course not," Vance replied.

"A lot of Americans can't afford health insurance right now because it's one of many things that's gone through the roof," he added. "And Donald Trump has actually fought for affordable health care for the entire American citizenry."

Vance also sought to tie Vice President Kamala Harris to Biden administration policies.
"These people can't get up there and offer all of these promises and the vision for the future," Vance said.
"They need to be able to say 'we did this thing and it made your life better.' Because they can't say that, it's a lot of rhetoric and generalized promises about the future," he added.

Go deeper: "Not going back": Walz formally accepts Democratic VP nomination

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"Dark and ominous tone": JD Vance slams Tim Walz's DNC speech

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