In the first and only vice-presidential debate of the 2024 election, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance are going head-to-head on the nation’s most pressing issues.
With just over 30 days till Election Day, the debate stage offers both candidates an opportunity to appeal to undecided voters and help solidify the Democratic and Republican platforms.
The high-stakes, 90-minute debate is being held at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City on Tuesday.
As Walz and Vance make their case for a Kamala Harris or Donald Trump-led White House respectively, ABC News is live fact-checking their statements for answers that are exaggerated, need more context or are false.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
WALZ CLAIM: Gov. Walz said, “The persons closest to them, to Donald Trump, said he is unfit for the highest office. That is Senator Vance.”
FACT-CHECK: True
Vance has shifted his view toward Trump since he first rose to prominence. Early in his career, Vance made a number of comments that were disparaging toward Trump. The specific comment that Walz seems to be referencing here is from a 2016 New York Times op-ed written by Vance ahead of the release of his book “Hillbilly Elegy.” In the op-ed, Vance wrote, “Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”
In years since the op-ed was published, Vance has said his views on Trump changed.
-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin
VANCE CLAIM: Sen. Vance said, “We’ve got 20, 25 million illegal aliens who are here in the country.”
FACT-CHECK: False
During Biden’s administration, immigration officials have encountered immigrants illegally crossing the U.S. border around 10 million times. When accounting for “got aways” — people who aren’t stopped by border officials — the number rises to about 11.6 million.
But encounters don’t mean admissions. Encounters represent events, so one person who tries to cross the border twice counts for two encounters. Also, not everyone encountered is let into the country.
The Department of Homeland Security estimates about 4.2 million encounters have led to expulsions or removals. About 3.9 million people have been released into the U.S. to await immigration court hearings under Biden’s administration, Department of Homeland Security data shows.
-PolitiFact’s Maria Ramirez Uribe
VANCE CLAIM: Vance said Iran has “received over $100 billion… thanks to the Kamala Harris administration.”
FACT-CHECK: False
Under President Barack Obama, Iran did take possession of $100 billion in unfrozen assets after the signing of the Iran nuclear deal, which Trump later overturned.
But Harris was not involved in the Obama administration. In August 2023, the U.S. announced an agreement with Iran to secure freedom for five U.S. citizens who’d been detained in the country in exchange for allowing Iran to access $6 billion of its own funds that had been frozen in South Korean banks.
The money consisted of Iranian oil revenue frozen since 2019, when Trump imposed a ban on Iranian oil exports and sanctions on its banking sector.
The agreement also included the release of five Iranians held in U.S. prisons.
In April 2024, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said that those funds had been once again frozen after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel and had not reached Iran.
-PolitiFact’s Louis Jacobson
The recent Vice Presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance has sparked a lot of discussion and analysis among political pundits and voters alike. Both candidates made a number of statements during the debate, but how accurate were they?
One of the key issues that both candidates addressed during the debate was the economy. Tim Walz claimed that his policies have led to a significant increase in job growth and economic prosperity in his state. While it is true that Minnesota has seen some economic growth in recent years, it is important to note that this growth has been part of a larger national trend and may not be solely attributable to Walz’s policies.
On the other hand, JD Vance argued that his opponent’s economic policies have actually hurt small businesses and led to job losses in the state. While it is true that some small businesses have struggled under Walz’s administration, it is also important to consider the broader economic factors at play, such as changes in consumer behavior and global market trends.
Another issue that was hotly debated during the VP debate was healthcare. Tim Walz claimed that he has worked to expand access to affordable healthcare for all residents of his state. While it is true that Minnesota has made some progress in expanding healthcare coverage, there are still many residents who struggle to afford insurance or access quality care.
JD Vance, on the other hand, argued that his opponent’s healthcare policies have led to increased costs and decreased quality of care for many residents. While it is true that healthcare costs have risen in recent years, it is important to consider the role of factors such as rising prescription drug prices and changes in insurance regulations.
Overall, it is clear that both Tim Walz and JD Vance made a number of claims during the VP debate that warrant further scrutiny and analysis. As voters, it is important to fact-check these statements and consider the broader context in which they were made. By critically evaluating the accuracy of these statements, we can make more informed decisions at the ballot box.
