Transcripts and summaries of JD Vance's campaign speeches

VP Nominee JD Vance Clashes with Jake Tapper, Defends Trump's 'Enemy Within' Remarks

Oct 27, 2024, 02:00 PM

Senator JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee and running mate of Donald Trump, defended the former president's remarks about domestic adversaries during contentious interviews with CNN's Jake Tapper and NBC's Kristen Welker. Vance agreed with Trump's assertion that the "enemy from within" poses a greater threat to the United States than foreign adversaries like Russia and North Korea. "What Donald Trump said is that those folks pose a greater threat to United States’ peace and security. That's a way bigger threat than any foreign threat," Vance stated. He criticized former Trump officials such as John Kelly, Liz Cheney, and General Mark Milley, accusing them of opposing Trump because they "want America to get involved in a ton of ridiculous military conflicts." Confronted about Trump's comments, Vance rejected the premise of the questions, emphasizing that internal issues like inflation, declining military recruitment, and the migrant crisis are more pressing concerns. "Can we talk about how Americans can't afford groceries?" he asked. Vance also challenged the integrity of media outlets like CNN, referencing their coverage of the Russia investigation: "You guys talked about the Russia hoax nonstop... That was totally and preposterously false."