Walz vs Vance: Fact Checking the VP Debate

Two near diametrically opposite visions of the future of our country — breaking it down into bite sized paragraphs

Tim Walz and JD Vance met for their first and only Vice Presidential debate. Below I provide a comprehensive analysis on 10 of the most salient questions and subjects. We have a lot to cover so let’s dive in. Likewise, please consider subscribing to support my work and advocacy. Let’s Address This.

Question 1: Preemptive strike on Iran?

Before I address either answer, I found it disturbing that the opening question readily assumed that preemptive strikes are on the table. If the Bush doctrine with Iraq has taught us anything, igniting war leads to mass death and destruction—not peace. I’ve made no secret about my disdain for Biden’s policies in arming Netanyahu—despite staunch opposition from the American people, and in violation of international human rights law. Accordingly, I’m not confident either candidate gave the strong answer I would have liked to hear. The right answer, in my view is that we must uphold international human rights law, and the US Leahy Laws, stop arming Netanyahu with offensive weapons, and deescalate. This includes a permanent ceasefire, immediate release of all hostages, and rebuilding of Gaza.

Governor Walz began by referencing the 10/7 Hamas attack “that killed 1,400 Israelis,” stressing the need for steady leadership in the face of such crises. He criticized Trump for focusing on trivial matters, like crowd sizes, while pointing out that even Trump's closest associates have labeled him as flawed and dangerous. Walz contrasted this with Harris's steady leadership, underscoring the importance of maintaining strong alliances, especially as Trump has leaned towards figures like Putin. He concluded by affirming that there would be serious consequences for Iran.

Vance opened by sharing his personal experience of needing food assistance. I found this ironic given his opposition to such programs as Senator. He then emphasized the chaos in the world and argued that Trump would restore stability. Vance falsely claimed that Iran received $100 billion from the Harris administration, though the funds were actually unfrozen in 2016 under Obama as part of the bipartisan Iran nuclear deal. He stated that Israel should decide how to respond to Iran, while reiterating Trump's “peace through strength” approach. This is also a fabrication given Trump dramatically increased drone strikes and extrajudicial killings globally—spiking civilian murders by 330%.

Question 2: Climate Change

Vance stated that both he and Trump support clean air and water. This is a lie, given Trump’s record of gutting the EPA's environmental regulations including rolling back more than 125 environmental safeguards, removing the United States from the Paris Climate Accords, and calling Climate Change a “Chinese hoax.” Vance likewise claimed that Harris has increased U.S. energy dependence on China and outsourced American manufacturing—both of which are also lies.

Walz highlighted that Trump has repeatedly called climate change a hoax, while contrasting that stance with the significant progress made under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which represents the largest climate investment in global history. He emphasized that the IRA has created 200,000 jobs in the U.S. and noted that the country is now producing more clean energy than ever before, showing that addressing climate change and creating jobs are not mutually exclusive goals. Additionally, Walz pointed out that the U.S. is producing more natural gas and oil than ever before, again criticizing Trump for dismissing climate change as a hoax, a point Vance refused to address.

Question 3: The Immigration Crisis

Following in Donald Trump’s fascist steps, JD Vance demonized immigrants dozens of times during the 90 minute debate. Here, I debunk his most oft repeated lies about immigrants.

• There’s no “invasion.” Notwithstanding the absurdity of labeling immigrants as “invaders,” undocumented crossings are at a three year low. Vance claimed there are 25M undocumented immigrants, then refused to explain how they would actually be deported, despite being reminded he’d previously laughed at the proposal as farcicle.

• Far from record crime rates as Vance alleged, America’s murder rates are at historic lows, and falling. Vance also never mentions that murder rates are 40% higher in red states than in blue states, and 8 of the top 10 states with highest murder rates are red states. This is in part due to failed “tough on crime” policies that red states espouse. Vance demonizes immigrants to avoid dealing with failed Republican policies.

• Vance ignores that Trump is on record that he wants more white immigrants from ‘nice’ countries like Norway, but condemns immigrants from “sh*thole countries,” i.e. his pejorative for Haiti and African countries. Vance also ignores that when Congress had a bipartisan immigration bill—Trump told GOP to kill it. When asked why Trump killed the bill, Vance repeatedly refused to answer.

• Immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, have significantly lower crime rates than do born U.S. citizens. This has in fact always been the case. You are statistically safer living next to an immigrant than you are living next to a born U.S. citizen. In fact, a study over a 150 year period found that immigrants have never had a higher crime rate than born U.S. citizens.

• And while Vance blames immigrants for fentanyl and firearms, the facts tell a different story. Border Patrol itself reports that 90% of fentanyl comes through registered border crossings, more than 50% is smuggled in by US citizens, and virtually none is brought in by asylum seekers. On firearms, more than 70% were smuggled from the US, not Mexico. Our gun violence is being exported to Mexico, not being imported from Mexico.

• Finally, contrary to Vance’s claim that immigrants cost American workers jobs and wages, studies repeatedly show that immigrants (including undocumented immigrants) increase worker pay for US citizens.

Question 4: Economy and Deficits

Walz acknowledged the struggles of the middle class and highlighted an Opportunity Economy, which includes building 3 million new homes, offering $25K down payment assistance, and ensuring affordable housing. He criticized Trump for cutting taxes for the wealthy, which added $8 trillion to the national debt, and called for the wealthy to pay their fair share. Walz also pointed out Trump’s mishandling of the economy during the COVID crisis, which led to 10 million job losses. He emphasized the importance of listening to experts and criticized Trump for avoiding paying taxes.

Vance defended Trump’s tax cuts, arguing that they were beneficial to working-class Americans, even though they contributed to an increase in the national deficit. He criticized Harris for not enacting her proposed plans during her term, despite the fact that much of this process is controlled by Congress. Vance claimed manufacturing was booming under Trump and struggling under Biden. As the above graphic shows, this is a lie, and the opposite is true. Vance also claimed that under Trump, Americans experienced the highest take-home pay in a generation. This is a lie, and Americans experienced a 3X higher increase in take home pay under Obama than under Trump.

Question 5: Reproductive Rights

Walz firmly rejected claims that he supports 9th-month abortions, instead highlighted Trump’s significant role in overturning Roe v. Wade. He also pointed to the dangerous implications of Project 2025’s proposed pregnancy registry and the skyrocketing maternal mortality rates in states like Texas. Walz underscored Minnesota’s top healthcare ranking, attributing it to the state's trust in women and doctors to make personal medical decisions. He shared the story of Amber Thurman, stressing that a woman's right to control her own body should not depend on geography. Walz reiterated his strong support for women’s freedom to make their own choices and praises Harris’s efforts to make childcare more affordable for families.

Vance claimed to support pro-family policies, though his voting record contradicts many of these claims. He advocated for states' rights to determine abortion policy, despite previously supporting a national ban after 15 weeks. While he now denies having ever backed such a ban, his website before July 17 explicitly stated his support for it. Vance knows he’s on the wrong side of this issue so he lied repeatedly to try to cover his tracks. He failed.

JD Vanc’es website before July 17, calling to end all abortion access.

Question 6: Gun Control

Vance opposes red flag laws and most gun control measures, instead attributing gun violence primarily to mental health issues and substance abuse. This is a lie. The data shows that mental illness is not in any way a cause of gun violence, and instead people with mental health issues are much more likely to be victims of gun violence than perpetrators of it. Vance wants to turn our schools into fortresses. This is not only absurd, there’s no evidence that such an approach actually works.

Walz instead emphasized the need for common-sense gun safety laws, criticizing Republicans for blocking even basic research on gun violence. He advocated for measures that would reduce gun-related deaths, pointing out that other countries have effectively addressed school shootings through stricter regulations. Walz underscores the importance of balancing Second Amendment rights with the safety of children and communities, arguing that responsible gun laws can prevent unnecessary tragedies without infringing on individual freedoms. He also spoke to the fact that the highest gun death rates are not in big cities, as Vance alleged, but in rural parts of America where gun related suicides are extremely high.

Question 7: Inflation and Housing

Vance repeated the false claim that immigrants were driving up home prices and receiving free housing. He advocated for using federal lands to develop housing but would not even provide a concept of a plan for how this would have worked.

Walz emphasized a more structured approach to tackling the housing crisis, focusing on building 3 million new homes and providing $25,000 in down payment assistance to help stabilize the market. He pointed to Minnesota's success in implementing similar strategies and argued that these solutions could be applied on a national scale. Walz also condemned the scapegoating of immigrants for rising home prices, calling for real solutions rather than divisive rhetoric that ignored the root causes of the housing shortage.

Question 8: Healthcare

Vance claimed that Trump lowered prescription drug prices and increased healthcare access during his presidency. Both these claims are a lie, because both of these improvements were largely the result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which Trump repeatedly tried to repeal via vote and via SCOTUS. In fact, Republicans have tried to repeal the ACA a shocking 100 times. Vance also insisted that preexisting conditions would be covered under his healthcare plan, though he once again provided no specific details on how this would be achieved.

Walz responded by pointing out Trump's numerous attempts to repeal the ACA, which provides protections for those with preexisting conditions. He emphasized that it was only John McCain’s decisive vote that prevented the repeal, underscoring the ongoing threat to healthcare access under Trump’s leadership. He also pointed out that under the current administration, Medicare was finally able to negotiate drug pricing and bring down the cost of insulin and other drugs for the first time in history.

Question 9: Childcare

Walz highlighted Minnesota’s success in implementing paid family leave, supporting childcare workers, and fostering a strong economy that benefits families. He emphasized how these initiatives have helped both families and businesses thrive, and called for similar national policies that reflect these values, ensuring that all families across the country can benefit from these kinds of supports.

In contrast, Vance did not offer any specific solutions to address the childcare crisis. Again, not even a concept of a plan.

Question 10: State of Democracy

Vance defended his decision to challenge the 2020 election results, bizarrely placing the blame on censorship and big tech for undermining democracy. He argued that peaceful protests should have been allowed, wholly ignoring the widespread violence that took place on January 6. When repeatedly asked to declare that Trump lost the 2020 election, Vance balked each time.

Walz countered by highlighting the violence of January 6, the brutal attacks on police officers, and Trump’s refusal to concede the election. He criticized Vance for failing to acknowledge that Trump lost the 2020 election, a key moment in the debate that underscored Vance’s unwillingness to confront the facts surrounding the outcome.

Closing statements

Walz focused on the themes of democracy, unity, and creating an economy that works for everyone. He emphasized the importance of protecting democratic values and ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed. Walz drew on the words of Maya Angelou and Franklin D. Roosevelt, underscoring the significance of freedom and the pursuit of opportunity for all citizens, urging voters to embrace a vision of inclusion and progress.

Vance concluded by stating “we haven’t talked about energy tonight,” when that discussion in fact came up repeatedly. Vance closed by criticizing Harris for her handling of energy policies, the fentanyl crisis, and rising inflation, and claimed we need “new” leadership via Trump.

Conclusion

Governor Tim Walz won the debate hands down. He started visibly nervous but settled into his teaching and coaching routine, and delivered line after line of substance and decency. I appreciated that he took time out to reject demonization of immigrants, reject demonization of people who struggle with mental health illnesses, and uplift women like Amber Thurman and tell her story. Senator JD Vance spent his time lying to the camera and demonizing immigrants. That about sums up his strategy.

As I’ve stated before, Donald Trump’s return to the White House with a Project 2025 agenda will invite fascism to America. He is not to be trusted with the office of the presidency—not if we care about the economy, the environment, immigration reform, reproductive health access, and government accountability. We must see through Trumps’s and Vance’s smokescreen of lies, understand the real threats to our nation’s future, and work with actual productive policy for economic, social, and climate justice. Reject the rhetoric. Reject the hate. Reject Donald Trump. Our country deserves better.

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