GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) quipped Monday that he’s frustrated he will no longer get to debate Vice President Harris, as she appears poised to replace President Biden atop the Democratic ticket.
“I was told I was going to get to debate Kamala Harris, and now President Trump is going to get to debate her? I’m kind of pissed off about that, if I’m being honest with you,” Vance said at a Middletown, Ohio, rally.
The Trump campaign had not officially agreed to a vice presidential debate, citing uncertainty over who would be on the Democratic ticket.
Vance, who had two solo campaign events scheduled for Monday, accused Harris and other Democrats of lying to the public about Biden’s ability to carry out his duties over the past three years.
“Every single person who saw Joe Biden knew he wasn’t capable of doing the job, and for three years they said nothing until he became political deadweight,” Vance said. “That is not a way to run a country. That is not a way to run a political party. That is an insult to voters.”
Biden announced Sunday afternoon he would not run for a second term amid mounting pressure from elected Democrats for him to step aside, citing concerns he could not defeat former President Trump in November. A short time later, he endorsed Harris as the nominee.
Harris said she planned to “earn and win” the party’s nomination, and it’s unclear if she will face any serious challengers in the month before the Democratic convention begins next month in Chicago.
The Trump campaign has sought to undermine the decision by suggesting replacing Biden ignores the will of the voters, though Harris was also on the ticket that received millions of votes in the Democratic primaries this year.
Trump allies have attacked Harris by tying her to Biden’s record on immigration and inflation and by suggesting she misled the public about Biden’s ability to do the job.