With just a few weeks remaining before the US Presidential election, past criticisms of Donald Trump by his running mate, JD Vance, have resurfaced. In 2020, Vance sent direct messages on Twitter, now known as X, expressing his doubts about Trump’s political prospects and his economic policies.
The Washington Post obtained these messages, revealing that Vance had stated, “Trump has just so thoroughly failed to deliver on his economic populism (excepting a disjointed China policy.)” He even predicted Trump’s defeat, stating to the same user, “I think Trump will probably lose.” Additionally, Vance claimed that he declined a position in the Trump administration.
While Vance’s spokesperson, William Martin, has clarified that the Republican vice presidential nominee’s criticism of Trump’s economic policies was not meant to condemn the former president, he suggested that the comment was aimed at “establishment Republicans who thwarted much of Trump’s populist economic agenda,” as reported by Forbes.
This revelation comes amidst ongoing controversy surrounding Vance’s recent claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. He had alleged that they were eating people’s pet cats and dogs, a statement that was amplified by Trump during his debate with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Vance, a US senator representing Ohio, is best known for his 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” which explored the struggles of rural America.
Meanwhile, recent polls suggest that Harris holds a narrow lead over Trump in six key swing states: Nevada, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. According to a Bloomberg poll of likely voters, Harris leads by 7 percentage points in Nevada, 5 points in Pennsylvania, 3 points in Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin, and 2 points in North Carolina. The two are tied in Georgia, as per a poll released on Friday. These polls offer a glimpse into the close race for the presidency and highlight the importance of these swing states in determining the outcome of the election.
