At the much-anticipated vice-presidential debate on October 1, Republican candidate JD Vance was sharply questioned by Democratic candidate Tim Walz about his stance on the 2020 presidential election and the events of January 6, 2021.
When pressed by the Minnesota governor, Vance refused to acknowledge that Donald Trump had lost the election.
Sen. JD Vance refused to acknowledge that former president Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, setting off one of the most contentious exchanges in Tuesday night’s vice-presidential debate with Gov. Tim Walz. https://t.co/nQlLHZTYbp
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 2, 2024
This crucial trade between Vance and Walz over election certification took place during the debate hosted by CBS News reporters Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell.
Vance avoided Tim Walz’s question about his running mate Donald Trump losing the 2020 election, saying he preferred to focus on future issues, even after Walz asked him repeatedly.
Walz called it a “damning lack of response”, pointing out the stark differences between their positions on electoral democracy.
This refusal to acknowledge Trump’s defeat raises questions about the future of democracy and highlights the divisions within the Republican party over the integrity of present and future elections.
JD Vance dodged questions about the possibility of contesting the 2024 election results, despite certification from state leaders. Trump’s running mate, who is adept at diverting attention from the debate to other topics, asserted that censorship of social media was, in his view, the greatest threat to democracy, surpassing concerns about the 2020 elections.
Walz, for his part, pointed out that the refusal to accept the election results had contributed to the division of the nation.