NEW KENSINGTON, PA — Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance appeared at a VFW near Pittsburgh on Thursday, touting former President Donald Trump’s veterans policies during his term in office.
Vance also accused Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, of avoiding media attention on their way to the Democratic Party convention in Chicago next week.
“I think I need to go before the American people and explain why I deserve this job,” Vance said in a Forbes video of his remarks.
“I think it’s a disgrace that Tim Walz and Kamala Harris are running away from every media interview, running away from every reporter. They refuse to respect the American people enough to stand in front of them and ask for their vote.”
Following the attempted assassination of Trump in western Pennsylvania last month, Vance spoke at an invitation-only event under tight security at VFW 92 in Westmoreland County.
In his nearly 40-minute appearance, Vance continued his criticism of Walz’s military credentials.
The Ohio senator has repeatedly accused Walz, a 24-year veteran of the Army National Guard, of misleading voters in the past by claiming he served in a combat zone. In 2003, Walz was deployed to Italy in a support role but did not participate in combat operations.
He accused Harris and Walz of trying to portray themselves as victims of Republican-fueled grumbling on the issue.
“I think the victims are the veterans whose service is being belittled because the guy who wants to be their vice president is lying instead of telling the truth,” he said.
