PHILADELPHIA, Penn. — Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio, commented on the “notable duo” of Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz, D-Minn., during an event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, following the announcement of her much-anticipated running mate.
“If we think back to the riots of the summer of 2020, Tim Walz was the individual who allowed rioters to destroy Minneapolis,” he noted, reflecting on the unrest triggered by George Floyd’s death during his arrest in Minneapolis.
“And it was Kamala Harris who provided bail for those rioters,” he continued. “So, that creates an interesting dynamic.”
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JD Vance criticized Kamala Harris’ selection of Tim Walz as her running mate. (Getty Images)
Republicans have heavily criticized Harris for supporting the Minnesota Freedom Fund during the summer of 2020 amidst the protests. Reports indicated that funds raised were primarily utilized to bail out individuals convicted of violent offenses, rather than aiding the peaceful protesters that were initially suggested.
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At a campaign gathering in South Philadelphia on Tuesday, Vance shared with attendees why he initially held back from commenting on Harris’ running mate announcement.
“The reason I didn’t provide much feedback regarding Tim Walz initially is that the Democrats have shown they’re willing to make unexpected changes,” he said, alluding to President Biden’s recent withdrawal from the race after facing pressure from influential Democrats.
Protests unfolded outside the Third Precinct in Minneapolis as fires broke out on Thursday, May 28, 2020. (Mark Vancleave/Star Tribune via AP)
“So, I’m not even sure if we’ll actually see Tim Walz as a candidate in this race. Many of us are questioning whether it will be confirmed until the Democrats officially nominate him at their upcoming convention,” he joked.
He also stated, “Tim Walz’s record is a disgrace. He has positioned himself as one of the most left-leaning radicals across all levels of U.S. government.”
“I think this reveals that Kamala Harris is presenting herself as a San Francisco liberal. She has acted like one and has chosen a running mate who embodies that same liberalism,” Vance noted.
Walz serves as the governor of Minnesota. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
At the Tuesday event, Vance was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd, which briefly erupted into chants of “JD! JD! JD!”
He invited several Pennsylvania voters to address the audience, saying, “It’s crucial to highlight the human impact of Kamala Harris’s tenure and to reinforce why we need President Donald J. Trump. The average individual benefits when he holds the presidency.”
The speakers highlighted their struggles with the fentanyl crisis and its effects on their community in the Philadelphia area.
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Vance criticized Harris and Walz for their progressive agendas. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
“These aren’t drugs that target specific races,” stated Geraldine Briggs, a young Black woman from Philadelphia. “The rehabilitation facilities demonstrate that this crisis affects everyone, regardless of demographics, income, or family history. Millions across the nation are impacted.”
“While Democrats claim to have improved the situation on Philadelphia’s streets, it hasn’t been effective,” she remarked.
According to Vance, Walz, whom Harris has chosen as her running mate, “is likely to exacerbate the fentanyl crisis we just discussed because he refuses to perform his responsibilities and hardly makes it easier for American citizens compared to illegal immigrants.”
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The Republican senator further linked the Biden administration’s failures to Harris, stating, “We’re witnessing a war in Europe, a conflict in the Middle East that threatens to escalate dangerously. We also are facing turmoil in global financial markets. Every endeavor Kamala Harris has undertaken has resulted in disaster, and we must remove her from the U.S. government rather than promoting her.”
Vance’s visit to Philadelphia coincides with Harris’s planned event in the city with Walz, marking their first appearance together as a Democratic ticket. The former President Trump’s running mate is also accompanying the Harris campaign on a multi-day tour of battleground states.
The Harris campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment immediately.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Lee and Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
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