Republican vice-presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, campaigning alongside former President Donald Trump, faced scrutiny on October 16, 2024, after stating that he does not believe Trump lost the 2020 election.
Speaking at a campaign event in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Vance was asked directly if Trump lost the election, to which he responded, “No, I think there are serious problems in 2020. So did Donald Trump lose the election? Not by the words that I would use.”
Furthermore, Vance engaged in a heated exchange with ABC News host Martha Raddatz during a campaign interview, addressing concerns about migrant gang activity in Aurora, Colorado.
For weeks, Vance had deflected similar questions, focusing instead on what he called “censorship” by tech companies during the 2020 campaign.
He pointed to the temporary suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop story by Twitter as evidence that the election was unfairly influenced.
In response, Vance has repeatedly highlighted this issue, framing it as censorship that undermined Trump’s chances in the race.
The 2020 election outcome has been a central issue in Trump’s political narrative, and while courts and multiple investigations upheld Joe Biden’s victory, Trump continues to claim the election was rigged.
Vance’s comments mark a notable shift in his tone as he had previously avoided giving a direct answer on the matter. During an earlier debate with Democratic vice-presidential nominee Gov.
Tim Walz of Minnesota, Vance dodged repeated attempts to get him to state whether Trump lost, choosing instead to discuss future policies. Walz described Vance’s response as a “damning non-answer.”
The Harris campaign immediately seized on Vance’s statement, with a spokesperson saying, “JD Vance finally admitted he denies the 2020 election results.
Donald Trump selected Vance for this exact reason — he knows Vance will be a loyal soldier in Trump’s pursuit for absolute, unchecked, limitless power.”
This controversy is not new for Vance. During a recent interview with The New York Times, he was asked five times whether he believed Trump lost the election, and each time he avoided giving a definitive answer.
Instead, Vance pivoted to his critique of tech censorship, particularly in relation to the Hunter Biden story. He argued that social media platforms’ handling of this issue cost Trump “millions of votes.”
Criticism of Vance’s stance extends beyond the Harris campaign.
After his comments, he also faced questions about Trump’s recent inflammatory remarks about a supposed “enemy within” the country, with Trump suggesting that the military might be deployed against domestic foes.
Vance refrained from condemning these statements, instead referring to unrest during the 2020 racial justice protests and suggesting that civil unrest could occur if Trump were re-elected.
Vance’s position on the 2020 election is likely to remain a focal point as the campaign progresses, especially with Trump’s indictments in Georgia and at the federal level related to efforts to overturn the election results.
Vance’s critics, including the Harris campaign and independent voters, may continue to press him on his stance as a reflection of his broader political allegiances and views on democracy.
Vance’s remarks have brought renewed attention to the role of election integrity in the 2024 campaign, a subject that will undoubtedly continue to dominate as the election approaches.
