The CBS Vice Presidential Debate saw Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, face a tough question about his foreign policy platform in the Middle East. When asked by CBS’ Margaret Brennan if he would support or oppose a preemptive strike by Israel on Iran, Walz stumbled, delivering a halting and stammering response. He emphasized the need for ‘steady leadership,’ pointing to the ongoing conflict in Israel and the recent missile attacks by Iran.
Walz continued his response by taking direct aim at former President Donald Trump, highlighting his perceived lack of leadership and drawing parallels between his own approach and that of Vice President Kamala Harris. He criticized Trump’s past statements about crowd sizes, citing John Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff, who described the former president as ‘the most flawed human being you’d ever met.’ He also referenced the criticisms of Trump by his former secretaries of defense and national security advisers, who, he said, believed Trump should not be near the White House.
Walz then turned to his Republican opponent, Sen. JD Vance, referencing Vance’s previous criticisms of Trump before his 2016 election victory. He argued that Vance’s own words about Trump’s unfitness for office demonstrated a lack of leadership.
In concluding his response, Walz asserted that Vice President Kamala Harris has shown ‘steady leadership’ on the world stage. He praised her ability to build and maintain coalitions, emphasizing the importance of strong alliances. He contrasted this with what he described as Trump’s ‘fickleness’ in his dealings with allies and his tendency to shift his focus towards leaders like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un. He concluded by reiterating that the US will protect its forces and allied forces and that there will be consequences for any hostile actions.
