During the vice presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance, both candidates made questionable and false assertions. Vance claimed that illegal Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio were overwhelming schools and hospitals, but many of them actually had legal status under Temporary Protected Status. Walz falsely claimed that Project 2025 proposed a registry of pregnancies, which was not a part of the conservative blueprint. Vance denied supporting a national ban on abortions, despite previously expressing openness to the idea during his 2022 Senate run. Walz also incorrectly stated that he was in China during the Tiananmen Square uprising in 1989 when he was actually in Nebraska at the time.
Vance disputed the idea that carbon emissions are driving climate change, despite scientific consensus that they are the primary cause. Walz claimed that Donald Trump had not paid federal taxes in 15 years, which was partially true according to a New York Times investigation that found Trump paid no income taxes in 10 out of 15 years. Vance praised Trump for working in a bipartisan way to ensure access to affordable care, but Trump actually tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act multiple times during his presidency.
The debate moderator attempted to correct Vance on the status of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, but both candidates continued to argue the issue until their microphones were cut. Walz falsely claimed that Project 2025 included a registry of pregnancies, a claim that was not supported by the conservative blueprint. Vance denied supporting a national ban on abortions, despite expressing openness to the idea during his Senate run. Walz also gave incorrect information about his whereabouts during the Tiananmen Square uprising, claiming he was in China when he was actually in Nebraska.
Vance contested the connection between carbon emissions and climate change, going against the scientific consensus on the issue. Walz inaccurately stated that Donald Trump had not paid federal taxes for 15 years, when in fact he did pay income taxes during the first three years of his presidency. Vance falsely praised Trump for working in a bipartisan way to ensure access to affordable care, despite Trump’s efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act multiple times during his presidency. Ultimately, both candidates made questionable and false assertions during the debate that were later fact-checked and clarified.
