In a newly released video, Vice President Kamala Harris accused former President Donald Trump of selecting Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio, as his vice-presidential running mate to serve as a “rubber stamp” for Trump’s “extreme agenda.”
This statement comes ahead of Vance’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, following Trump’s announcement of Vance as his VP pick.
“Trump looked for someone he knew would be a rubber stamp for his extreme agenda,” Harris declared in the video. “Make no mistake: JD Vance will be loyal only to Trump, not to our country.”
Harris and Vance reportedly spoke by phone after the nomination, with Harris leaving a congratulatory voicemail, according to the New York Post.
However, Harris has been vocal in her criticism of Vance, particularly regarding his stance on the 2020 election.
Vance, in an earlier interview with ABC News, expressed that he would not have certified the 2020 election results, citing unsubstantiated claims of election fraud.
“Unlike Mike Pence, Vance said he would have carried out Trump’s plan to overturn the 2020 election,” Harris stated.
The Vice President also highlighted Vance’s controversial positions on key issues such as abortion and reproductive rights. During his 2022 Senate campaign, Vance voiced support for a national abortion ban at 15 weeks, with limited exceptions.
Furthermore, he recently voted against a Democrat-led bill to protect access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), a move Harris condemned in her video.
“He supports a national abortion ban and voted against protecting IVF,” Harris stated.
Harris also referenced Project 2025, a policy initiative by the conservative Heritage Foundation, which outlines right-wing policy recommendations for a potential second Trump term.
The project includes proposals to replace civil service employees with Trump loyalists, abolish the Department of Education, criminalize pornography, eliminate DEI programs, cut funding for Medicaid and Medicare, and infuse government operations with Christian values.
Despite Trump’s attempts to distance himself from the initiative, Harris warned of its potential impact.
“And if elected, [Vance] will help implement the extreme Project 2025 plan for a second Trump term, which would target critical programs like Head Start and Medicare,” she said. “But we are not going to let that happen.”
