JD Vance refuses to say Trump lost in 2020, downplays events of Jan. 6
In one of the most notable exchanges of the vice presidential debate, Republican candidate JD Vance refused to say former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and downplayed the events of Jan.6, 2021, when a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S.
Capitol to try to stop the ceremonial certification of the results.The Ohio senator also declined to rule out challenging the outcome of the 2024 race, even if votes were certified by every state leader as legitimate.Minnesota Democratic Gov.Tim Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, expressed exasperation and disbelief.
He said such denialism had to stop because it was "tearing our country apart."The topic of democracy, a top issue for many voters this cycle, came up near the end of the 90-minute debate hosted by CBS News in New York City.MORE: Key takeaways from the Walz-Vance vice presidential debateModerator Norah O'Donnell, noting there were no findings of widespread fraud in 2020, asked Vance about his past comment that he would not have certified the election if he had been vice president and instead would have asked states to submit alternate slate of electors."That has been called unconstitutional and illegal," O'Donnell said."Would you, again, seek to challenge this year's election results, even if every governor certifies the results?"Vance first sidestepped the question by saying he was "focused on the future" and criticized Harris, who he later claimed was the real "threat to democracy" as he accused her of censorship.When he did address the question, he said: "Look, what President Trump has said is that there were problems in 2020, and my own belief is that we should fight about those issues, debate those issues peacefully in the public square."Republican vice presidential candidate Sen.
JD Vance speaks during the Vice Presidential debate in New York City, Oct.1, 2024.Matt Rourke/AP"And that's all I've said, and that's all that Donald Trump has said," Vance continued, even though Trump is crimi...