Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance delivered a sharp rebuttal during Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate when confronted with a question about the controversial Iranian nuclear deal. The moderator, Margaret Brennan, asked both candidates about their stance on a preemptive Israeli strike on Iran, but when it came to Vance, she framed the question around former President Obama’s Iranian nuclear deal, implying it was an effective deterrent. This prompted a well-crafted response from Vance.
Walz, in his answer, shifted the conversation toward Donald Trump, accusing the former president of cozying up to rogue nations like North Korea. But Vance was quick to steer the debate back on track. Addressing Brennan’s question, he first called out the flaws in the deal itself, before taking a jab at the current administration.
“Well, first of all, Margaret, diplomacy is not a dirty word, but I think that’s something that Governor Walz just said is quite extraordinary,” Vance began. “You yourself just said Iran is as close to a nuclear weapon today as they have ever been, and Governor Walz, you blame Donald Trump. Who has been the vice president for the last three and a half years? And the answer is your running mate, not mine.”
Vance seized the moment to highlight the global instability that has unfolded under the Biden-Harris administration. He pointed out that multiple international conflicts have erupted during their tenure, including the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
“Donald Trump consistently made the world more secure,” Vance said. “Ask yourself at home, when was the last time, I’m 40 years old, when was the last time that an American president didn’t have a major conflict breakout? The only answer is during the four years Donald Trump was president.”
The debate, which served as the final match-up between the two vice presidential candidates before Election Day, had already been fraught with tension. In the weeks leading up, Vance frequently criticized Walz’s claims about his military service. Walz had come under fire for exaggerating his record, including claims about his rank and his experience carrying “weapons of war.”
While Walz had used an attack strategy labeling Vance and Trump as “weird,” the line of attack has largely fallen flat, especially as Walz’s own statements have faced increased scrutiny. Vance’s performance at the debate only further solidified his reputation as a strong debater.
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