In a surprisingly cordial face-off, Republican Senator JD Vance of Ohio and Democratic Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota squared off Tuesday night, October 1, in the lone vice presidential debate of the 2024 election season. The running mates of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, respectively, engaged in a lively discussion that touched on everything from immigration to climate change, with a dash of Midwest charm sprinkled throughout.
The debate, moderated by CBS News anchors Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan, saw the candidates finding common ground on several issues while still highlighting stark differences in their running mates’ platform.
One of the evening’s most heated exchanges revolved around immigration, particularly concerning Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. Vance defended controversial statements he had previously made, including unsubstantiated claims about immigrants eating pets. These allegations have been widely debunked by local authorities, including Springfield Mayor Warren Copeland and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, both Republicans.
Walz didn’t let the opportunity slip by, accusing Vance of “demonizing” immigrants for political gain. “This rhetoric dehumanizes and villainizes migrants,” Walz argued, suggesting it distracts from addressing real immigration challenges.
The debate took an unexpected turn when moderators muted the candidates’ microphones during a particularly spirited exchange. This decision came as Vance attempted to dispute the moderators’ fact-checking of his claims about the Haitian immigrants’ legal status.
Moderator Brennan stepped in to clarify for viewers that the Haitian migrants in Springfield have legal status under Temporary Protected Status, a federal program allowing individuals from certain countries to live and work in the United States due to conditions preventing their safe return home.
The immigration discussion wasn’t all fireworks, though. Both candidates found common ground on the need to address the issue, with Vance defending the Trump administration’s border policies and Walz emphasizing bipartisan immigration reform.
Climate change and energy policy also took center stage, with Vance asserting that the Biden-Harris administration has hampered American energy production. However, fact-checkers were quick to point out that under the current administration, the U.S. produced a record amount of oil last year, averaging 12.9 million barrels per day. This surpassed the previous record set under former President Trump in 2019.
The debate wasn’t without its lighter moments. When discussing healthcare, Vance quipped that Trump had “salvaged Obamacare,” a claim that raised eyebrows given Trump’s repeated attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act during his presidency.
Both candidates also addressed personal controversies. Vance explained his decision to run alongside Trump, whom he once compared to “America’s Hitler,” while Walz addressed his past claim of being in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests, which he acknowledged was not true.
The debate took a serious turn when discussing the events of January 6, 2021, and the results of the 2020 election. Walz pressed Vance on whether he believed Trump had lost the election, to which Vance responded, “I’m focused on the future.” Walz called this a “damning non-answer.”
Despite the occasional heated exchange, observers noted that the overall tone of the debate was more civil than recent presidential debates. Both candidates engaged in substantive policy discussions and even shook hands following the event, a gesture that seemed to harken back to a more genteel era of political discourse.
The impact of the vice presidential candidates’ statements extends beyond the debate stage. In a significant development, the Haitian Bridge Alliance, representing the Haitian community in Springfield, has filed a private-citizen lawsuit against former President Trump and Vance. The lawsuit alleges that their persistent spreading of false claims has led to disruptions in public services, bomb threats, and threats against local officials.