Tim Walz made a huge mistake right from the start. Answering a question, he confused the Democratic candidate for Iran and Israel. J. D. Vance, the Ohio senator and Republican vice presidential candidate, on the other hand, talked about how Donald Trump brought stability to the world.
Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential candidate for governor of Minnesota, was first asked if he would support a preemptive strike on Iran by Israel. Walz first mixed up the two countries, then, after some confusion – similar to Kamala Harris’s speeches – tried to please both supporters of Israel and Palestinians within a sentence by saying that it is essential for Israel to be able to defend itself, free hostages, and end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
He then talked about the need for stable leadership to handle the situation, criticizing the “nearly eighty-year-old” Donald Trump, the former President of the United States and Republican presidential candidate. Kamala Harris, on the other hand, would bring stability and calm, in his opinion. It is another question that the current president, Biden, is years older than Trump.
J. D. Vance, the Ohio senator and Republican vice presidential candidate, responded to the same question by stating that the Donald Trump, whom Walz tried to portray as the agent of chaos, actually brought stability to the world by creating “effective deterrence.”
He pointed out that the current attacking Iran has gained access to over $100 billion in frozen money under the Biden-Harris administration. They use this money to buy weapons, which they then use against the United States’ allies, he added.
“To make people fear the United States, you need peace through strength,” Vance said, adding that the United States’ global leadership role brings stability and peace to the world. Contrary to Walz, Vance answered the real question, saying that Israel has the right to decide what to do for its security.
“When was the last time an American president didn’t start a major conflict? – asked the poetical question and immediately answered: during Trump’s presidency,” he said.
The next question related to the destructive Hurricane Helene focused on steps to combat climate change. J. D. Vance said that the most powerful government response is needed to save as many lives as possible in hurricane-affected areas, followed by a focus on rebuilding.
Trump and he aim to make the environment cleaner and safer – he emphasized.
Regarding carbon dioxide emissions, he said that since the United States has the cleanest economy in the world, if we want lower emissions, we should move production there, but under the Biden-Harris administration, the opposite happened.
Walz cited investments in electric vehicle and solar panel manufacturing following President Joe Biden’s measures and accused Trump of calling climate change a hoax.
Vance said that if they really want to make the environment cleaner, they should invest in energy production, but in the United States, no new nuclear facilities have been built in forty years.
“Before talking about deportations, we need to stop the bleeding. We are in a historic immigration crisis,” Vance pointed out on the topic of migration. Kamala Harris suspended 94 executive orders issued by Trump, which led not only to increased migration but also to a surge in fentanyl inflow. Vance believes the wall started by Trump should be completed, and deportations should be carried out, starting with criminal migrants. Measures should be taken against immigrants pushing down wages, he emphasized.
Walz, on the other hand, highlighted that a comprehensive immigration reform could be the solution, which simultaneously includes border security measures and expedites legal procedures for migrants’ rights. Walz emphasized that one of the objectives of the Harris administration is to work on immigration policy with the draft enjoying congressional support, taking into account the opinions of border security organizations and economic interests.
He was then asked how he would implement the ambitious economic steps outlined by Kamala Harris without skyrocketing the budget deficit. Instead of addressing the question directly, Walz talked about the plans themselves, easing the housing shortage, and tax cuts. He dismissed the original question by saying, “We just ask the richest to pay their fair share.”
Vance reminded that Kamala Harris already had three and a half years to do everything she outlined in her current program. “Instead, however, the costs for ordinary people have increased significantly. This reveals a lot about how much confidence can be placed in her plans,” he added.
On the other hand, Trump’s economic policies guaranteed the highest take-home pay for a generation and worked for the first time in a long time to develop American manufacturing capacity.
“We will return to the wisdom of common sense,” Vance promised.
Walz was asked about his claim that he was in Hong Kong during the deadly Tiananmen Square protests in the spring of 1989, but he actually only traveled there in August. Walz admitted that he “had the opportunity in the summer.”
J. D. Vance was asked about his previous criticism of Donald Trump. The vice presidential candidate said he openly admitted that he was wrong about Trump, mostly because he believed some stories spread by the media.
“Trump has achieved things that he wouldn’t have thought possible,” Vance added.
He also revealed the only thing he liked about Joe Biden’s tenure: that he retained some of the tariffs introduced by Trump.
Regarding abortion, both vice presidential candidates reiterated their well-known positions: Walz believed that abortion should be a federal right, while Vance believed that individual states should decide on the matter. Vance also emphasized that Republicans are committed to family-friendly policies.
Regarding the all too common school shootings and armed crimes in the United States, J. D. Vance pointed out that most of them are committed with illegal firearms, and through Kamala Harris’s border policy, the number of illegal weapons flowing into the country has also increased. The Republican candidate believes that school security needs to be increased.
Walz insisted that schools should not be turned into fortresses and should allow children to be children. “I even made friends with school shooters,” Kamala Harris’s vice president boasted.
The United States also faces a mental health crisis, which needs to be addressed, especially as it is one of the causes of the problem of armed violence, Vance pointed out. He also believes that strengthening law enforcement agencies is another solution.
Regarding high housing costs and housing shortages, Walz cited the largest investment in housing construction and support for down payments in the state of Minnesota during his tenure.
Vance believes that millions of migrants are competing with Americans for a limited number of homes, driving up prices. If Kamala Harris really wants to work on more affordable housing, she should start as the reigning vice president – the Ohio senator sent a message to the Democratic presidential candidate.
In addition, they need to increase energy production to help lower prices, including the costs of construction.
Regarding healthcare, J. D. Vance pointed out that under Trump’s presidency, prescription drug prices decreased for the first time in a long time, while they increased under Kamala Harris’s vice presidency. In addition, Trump advocated for price transparency, which gave Americans electoral options and also lowered prices.
“As president, Trump worked with both parties to ensure Americans have affordable access to healthcare,” Vance emphasized.
Walz, on the other hand, focused on continuing and expanding the Biden administration’s healthcare achievements.
Both vice presidential candidates agreed that paid leave should be provided to new parents. However, Vance emphasized that there must be a plan for it, something Donald Trump has, and mothers should be provided with election options to decide how long they want to stay home with their newborn.
At the end of the debate, the state of democracy was discussed, which is of paramount importance to many Americans. Vance supported Donald Trump’s earlier position that significant investigations are needed into the problems surrounding the 2020 elections.
“American democracy is indeed threatened, but not by what Kamala Harris and Tim Walz talk about, but by the danger of censorship,” the Republican vice presidential candidate pointed out.
Censorship by large technology companies is a serious threat to democracy, Vance said, urging for the renewal of political debates and emphasizing that Americans have the right to express their opinions.
“Kamala Harris is engaging in industrial-scale censorship,” Vance said.
Walz highlighted the seriousness of the events on January 6 and criticized Donald Trump’s actions at the time. The Republican vice presidential candidate, on the other hand, pointed out that Trump peacefully handed over power on January 6.
In his closing statement, Walz emphasized that Kamala Harris “brings the politics of joy” to Americans, while J. D. Vance pointed out how the policy of Kamala Harris made the lives of average Americans more difficult, making it harder for them to afford heating, food, and housing.
“We have the most beautiful country, but people won’t be able to live the American dream if we do the same things we did in the past three and a half years,” concluded the Republican vice presidential candidate.
J. D. Vance, the Ohio Republican senator, clashed with Tim Walz, the Minnesota Democratic governor, in New York. The two American vice presidential candidates faced each other for the first and only time on the debate stage. The debate was broadcast on the CBS television channel, lasted 90 minutes, and was moderated by Norah O’Donnell, the host of CBS Evening News, and Margaret Brennan, the host of the network’s Face the Nation current affairs program.
