Trump’s running mate isn’t backing down. He’s ready to defend himself against those who are opposed to putting America first.
And JD Vance fights back after being targeted by this foreign country.
On Wednesday, Senator JD Vance (R-OH), the running mate for former President Donald Trump, responded to recent comments made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who labeled Vance as “too radical.”
Zelensky’s remarks, made earlier this week during his visit to Pennsylvania, were seen by Vance as an affront to American taxpayers, given that, in his view, Zelensky “ought to say thank you” to the United States for its support.
Vance, who had been given the platform to respond, was also asked to outline how a potential Trump-Vance administration would handle the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Addressing the issue, Vance emphasized a strong and intelligent approach: “It’s by not being weak and not being dumb, which is unfortunately something you can’t say for the current administration,” he said, to cheers from the crowd.
The senator also emphasized a key difference between Trump’s leadership and that of previous presidents.
“Russia didn’t invade a single one of their neighbors for the four years that Donald Trump was president. The president before him, and the president after him, somehow Russia keeps invading their neighbors. It’s because they don’t respect American leadership, and because our leaders aren’t smart.”
Vance further argued that under Trump’s leadership, there would be a combination of strength and intelligence brought back to the Oval Office. He believes that this approach would be enough to end the war in Ukraine, adding, “It’s not in America’s interest, it’s not in Ukraine’s interest, and it’s not in Europe’s interest for this war to go on indefinitely.”
Vance then addressed Zelensky’s criticism directly, clarifying that his earlier statements, which Zelensky took issue with, were not a concrete plan but rather a scenario for how the conflict might eventually be resolved.
However, Vance expressed his disapproval of Zelensky’s tone toward the U.S., stating, “I don’t appreciate Zelensky coming to this country and telling the American taxpayers what they ought to do. He ought to say thank you to the American taxpayers!”
.@JDVance reacts to Zelensky criticizing him as "too radical" in the New Yorker:
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 26, 2024
"I don't appreciate Zelensky coming to this country and telling the American taxpayers what they ought to do. He ought to say thank you to the American taxpayers." pic.twitter.com/2kdQrfKwcx
Zelensky’s comments has spurred Republican leaders, including Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY), to investigate the Ukrainian president’s visit, which was taxpayer-funded. Zelensky arrived in the U.S. aboard a military aircraft and was provided with Secret Service protection during his trip.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) also weighed in, calling for Zelensky to dismiss Ambassador Oksana Markarova over the trip, which Johnson described as “a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats” and as “election interference.”
The visit featured prominent Democrats such as Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sen. Bob Casey, Jr., but no Republicans were present. Johnson and Gooden have pointed to the partisan nature of the trip as evidence of interference in U.S. politics.
Zelensky is scheduled to meet with U.S. lawmakers, though Johnson has confirmed that he will not meet with the Ukrainian president.
Zelensky has so far avoided answering questions from reporters about the visit or Johnson’s demands regarding Markarova, with the ambassador herself also declining to respond when asked about her potential resignation.
The backdrop to these events includes a significant amount of U.S. financial support for Ukraine. Earlier this year, Congress approved a $95 billion foreign aid package, and, as of April, the U.S. has pledged a total of $174 billion to assist Ukraine in its defense against Russia, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Public opinion on the war has been divided, with a 2022 Harvard CAPS/Harris poll revealing that 62 percent of registered voters believed Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if Trump were still president. Additionally, 59 percent of respondents attributed Putin’s actions to perceived weakness in President Biden’s leadership.
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