GOP Lawmakers, Leaders React to Vance, Walz Debate
Republican lawmakers and top voices reacted sharply as Vice Presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz sparred during their first and only debate on Tuesday night in New York City. The debate, moderated by CBS News, was a significant moment in the 2024 election cycle, with both candidates focusing on key issues like immigration, abortion, and Middle East policy.
Trump 2024 national press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X, “Senator JD Vance spitting the cold hard TRUTH on the debate stage. Total domination and we are only 20 minutes in.”
Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., criticized Tim Walz, saying, “Tim Walz is as radical as they come on the issue of immigration. As governor of Minnesota, he supported free health care, free college tuition, and driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. Innocent Americans have been assaulted & murdered because of this border crisis.”
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., also weighed in, stating, “Tim Walz’s answer on Israel was incomprehensible. Like Kamala—Walz has no idea what he is talking about. Kamala and Walz would make the chaos in the Middle East worse.”
Trump campaign senior adviser Tim Murtaugh added, “Iran rained missiles down on Israel TODAY, 1,350 days into Kamala Harris’ tenure as Vice President, so naturally Tim Walz says it’s Donald Trump’s fault.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., praised Vance, saying, “JD knocks it out of the park with first question!!! Tim Walz implodes on first question in presentation, communication, and substance.”
Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott emphasized the immigration policy issue, stating, “Law enforcement has been attacked. Deadly fentanyl has taken the lives of thousands of Americans. Kamala Harris & Tim Walz support open border policies. They will make the border crisis WORSE.”
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized Kamala Harris and Tim Walz further, saying, “How can Tim Walz pretend Kamala is tough on the border when she allowed more than 16,000 sex offenders and 13,000 murderers to cross the border? A vote for Kamala and Tim Walz is a vote for open borders.”
On abortion, Donald Trump Jr. wrote, “He is better in our toughest issues than most republicans are on our best issues. I told you so!!!” Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene added, “Democrats always resort to killing babies every time they are losing. And then lie and call it ‘reproductive freedom.’ There is nothing reproductive about abortion.”
