- Vance took questions from media in front of rally goers
- 'If you want to be the... vice president you ought to answer their questions'
J.D. Vance claimed the media is trying to turn Kamala Harris to the 'second coming of Abraham Lincoln' with their fawning coverage.
Donald Trump's running mate torched the 'fake news' for painting a glowing picture of the vice president after 24 days without a sit-down interview or press conference.
Speaking in Byron Center, Michigan, Vance also mocked President Joe Biden's leadership and claimed Harris served as the 'acting president' for the last three-and-a-half years.
The former venture capitalist used the remarks to undercut Biden and Harris economic policy and said prices had surged by 20 percent.
And really turning up the heat onto the current VP, he accused Harris of pulling the strings behind the scenes and claimed her presidency would just extend the actions of the Biden administration.
'While we're on the topic of Kamala Harris – we've got some of our friends in the media. I just can't quite get over how dishonest the American media is about Kamala Harris – isn't that the craziest thing,' Vance said during his approximately 26-minute remarks.
Sen. J.D. Vance tore into the press coverage of Vice President Kamala Harris and said she hasn't done an interview since becoming the Democratic candidate because she can't answer reporters' questions
'Democratic leaders all across the country – they would say things and the American media would back them up that President Biden is as sharp as he's ever been, he's as sharp as a tack. Remember that?' the Ohio senator added.
'And the American media acted for three-and-a-half years like this guy was Albert Einstein and now they want to tell us that Kamala Harris is the second coming of Abraham Lincoln,' he said. 'We don't buy it, we don't believe it.'
Vance visited the Cordes building supply store and spoke to a few hundred supporters after a quick meet and greet inside a warehouse of antique cars and memorabilia. He finished off the one-day swing with a stop at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market where he bought a branzino, shared ice cream with his wife and went to a bubble tea stand, speaking with Michigan voters along the way.
During his remarks, Vance said Harris cannot promise to change the government that she has been part of running for the last three-and-a-half-years – and insisted she has been the only running the show amid 81-year-old Biden's cognitive decline.
'Everything about her campaign is fake,' Vance accused. 'A fake joy that comes with being promoted to a new position instead of using a position you already have to do your job and make the lives of the citizens of this country better.'
'It's a fake ticket that never earned a single Democrat primary vote,' he said. 'It's a fake platform that offers no specifics about how to do the people's businesses.'
'And a fake promise to change the government even though she's been in charge of that very government for almost four years and hasn't done a damn thing.'
At the end of his remarks on Wednesday, Vance did something unique for a political rally and decided to hold a live press conference in front of his and Trump's supporters.
J.D. and Usha Vance appeared at a rally in Byron Center, Michigan on Wednesday
Vance took questions from media in front of rally goers and said: 'If you want to be the American people's vice president you ought to answer their questions and try to earn their vote. It's really that simple'
Asked during the impromptu press event about the tactic to more outwardly speak with media, the Republican VP candidate said he wants all Americans to see how important it is when running for office to take tough questions and answer them publicly.
'It's a message to everybody that if you want to be the American people's vice president you ought to answer their questions and try to earn their vote. It's really that simple,' Vance replied to cheers.
'You have got to stand before the American people and answer tough questions if you want to do this job,' he continued. 'And it is scandalous that Kamala Harris is running from the media – but, more importantly, she's running from the American people. That's a disgrace.'
'I've never seen a presidential campaign in the history of my life where a person is asking to be the President of the United States, but she's afraid of you guys,' Vance added, gesturing to media lined up at the front of the stage in Byron Center, Michigan on Wednesday afternoon.
'Now look, I'd say that some of you are perfectly fine journalists,' the Republican senator went on. 'Some of you, no offense, are fake news. But whatever your background in journalism, if you can't answer questions from the media, do you think you're going to be able to take on Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping?'
'If you're afraid of answering before the American people, how can we possibly trust you to sit in a room with world leaders and represent the American people.'
