Amidst heightened political tension in the lead-up to the upcoming election, Ohio Senator and Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance has stepped forward to defend former President Donald Trump’s controversial comments about potentially using the military to manage internal threats.
Trump’s remarks, made during a recent Fox News interview, sparked widespread debate and criticism. He labeled radical left-wing groups as a domestic threat and suggested that they posed a greater danger than immigrants, a frequent target of his criticism. When asked about the possibility of using the military to handle these groups, Trump stated, “Radical left lunatics could be very easily handled, if necessary, by the National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military.”
Vance, however, dismissed the idea that Trump’s statements indicate a willingness to target his own citizens with military force, labeling such claims as media sensationalism. Speaking at a rally in Pittsburgh, he emphasized that Trump’s intention was to maintain law and order within the country.
“What President Trump has said quite directly is that if that ever happens again—if you ever have people who think that they can not just exercise their First Amendment right, but loot and riot and burn down American cities—we are going to go after them, and we’re going to go after them hard,” Vance stated, referencing the violent unrest that erupted in US cities during the summer of 2020 following the murder of George Floyd.
He further criticized the media’s focus on the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, arguing that the media was disproportionately highlighting this event while neglecting the widespread unrest of 2020. “The media loves to talk about January the sixth,” Vance commented. “If you committed acts of violence, then you should be prosecuted for them. Everybody believes that.”
Vance’s defense of Trump’s comments underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the former president’s rhetoric and his potential role in future political discourse. With the election approaching, Trump’s views on managing internal unrest and the potential role of the military remain a contentious issue, dividing his supporters from his critics.