The TV debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance was largely factual and free of personal attacks. Trump, meanwhile, attacked Walz on Truth Social.
Washington, DC – Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and Republican JD Vance were asked about many topics including abortion, the economy, immigration and gun control during the TV debate for the upcoming US election in November. Former President Donald Trump, of course, watched the debate and gave his comments. He published several posts on his platform in quick succession Truth Social and thus responded to answers from Walz, which he described as “everything is TOTAL BULLSHIT!”
Trump was as usual provocative in his posts about the debate and commented on it in his usual style, with personal attacks and capital letters. “Why doesn’t Walz answer the question about his LIES?” Trump posted. “He does talk ‘a lot’, but it’s all TOTAL nonsense!”
USA: TV duel between Vance and Walz remained objective
Even after the debate between “running mates” Vance and Walz, the race for the US presidency remains close. Unlike what we know from the debates with Trump, this time the TV duel was quite matter-of-fact, without any personal attacks. Their first and probably only television debate in this election campaign stood out for its depth of content: topics such as irregular migration, the right to abortion and the climate crisis were discussed.
In another Truth Social post, Trump later cheered on his running mate, adding: “JD Vance simply DESTROYED Tampon Tim with his FACTS. America was GREAT when I was president and we will make America great again after we win on November 5th!”
Trump and his team are known for coming up with provocative nicknames. So Walz also received one: “Tampon Tim”. According to a report by the New York Times aimed at portraying the Democratic vice-presidential candidate as left-wing liberal.
Trump’s reaction to the TV duel between Walz and Vance
After Vance came under fire for Trump’s stance on abortion, the former president wrote in all caps: “Everyone knows that I would not support a federal abortion ban under any circumstances and would in fact veto it because it is up to the states on which based on the will of their voters (the will of the people). (…)”
Additionally, he wrote in other posts: “Tim Walz is not doing well. He is not qualified to be Vice President – like Kamala, he is a TOTAL JOKE!” as well as “Walz should take less notes and focus more on telling the TRUTH” or “JD is doing GREAT – a whole different level of intelligence than Tampon Tim!”.
It will be exciting in the US election campaign
Be well informed with our free US election newsletter. Contributions from our renowned partners, such as the Washington Post, provide you with the US perspective. Translated into German. Click here to subscribe to the US election compact newsletter.
TV duel: Vance is considered the winner of the debate, Walz seemed “overloaded”
According to many observers, JD Vance is considered the winner of the debate. After the TV duel, he commented Wall Street Journal the performances of Walz and Vance: “Walz was likeable and avuncular, although he sometimes seemed hectic and overloaded with too many facts and pre-arranged lines of attack. With his presence and his authority, Vance won the debate. The senator has been particularly successful in sanding down the sharper edges of Republican politics, portrayed as cruel by Democrats and the press.” (jal/dpa)