Vance takes on Harris in Trump campaign debut

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance dinged Vice President Kamala Harris during his campaign trail debut in Grand Rapids.

“The vice president, Kamala Harris, she doesn’t like me,” Vance told the crowd Saturday. “Kamala Harris said something to the effect of that I have no loyalty to this country.

“Well, I don’t know Kamala,” he said. “I did serve in the United States Marine Corps and built a business. What the hell have you done other than collect a check? … We have to give her credit, my friends, she did serve as border czar during the biggest disaster open border that we’ve ever had in the country. Let’s get President Trump back there, close down that border, and bring some common sense and security to this country.”

Vance, appearing at former President Donald Trump‘s first rally since last week’s assassination attempt a week ago a few hours away in Butler, Pennsylvania, reflected on the past seven days, which included Trump tapping the Ohio senator, 39, as his running mate Monday during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

“I find it hard to believe that a week ago, an assassin tried to take Donald Trump’s life and now we’ve got a hell of a crowd in Michigan to welcome him back on the campaign trail,” Vance said, warming up the audience in Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids for the former president.

“I’m just so blessed and so grateful to be up here,” he added before introducing himself to those in attendance and criticizing the media for claiming Trump is “radical” and “dangerous.”

“It’s still a little bit weird to see my name on those signs,” Vance said. “Such an honor, such an incredible honor. You think about how I grew up, and you think about nobody in my immediate family had ever gone to college, and here I am getting to represent this ticket in the great state of Michigan, getting an opportunity to earn your vote as the next vice president of the United States. What a great country this is.”

The Trump campaign chose Grand Rapids as the backdrop to Vance’s first rally with the hope that his Ohio upbringing would appeal to Midwest voters, despite the rivalry between the University of Michigan and the Ohio State University, Vance’s alma mater. President Joe Biden‘s campaign, should he remain in the race, will be decided by the blue wall states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where he polls better against Trump compared to Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada, but is still behind.

“We’ve got to win Michigan, that’s the most important thing in this election cycle,” Vance said, quipping to his “Ohio brethren” that he will “respect” Michigan by not responding to “Ohio” chants.

Vance’s next rally, on Monday, will be his first solo one, an event in his hometown of Middletown, Ohio. He is also expected to debate Harris this or next month on CBS, though negotiations are still ongoing.