President Joe Biden launched a scathing critique of Ohio Senator JD Vance on Monday, branding him a mirror image of former President Donald Trump on key policy matters. Biden’s remarks came during a departure speech at Andrews Air Force Base, where he departed for Nevada to intensify his campaign efforts.
“I don’t see any difference,” Biden asserted, referring to Vance as he criticized both him and Trump for purportedly planning tax increases for the middle class alongside tax cuts for the wealthy.
“They talk a big game about supporting working people, but now, Trump and Vance want to raise taxes on middle-class families while pushing for more tax cuts for the rich,” Biden stated emphatically.
The Biden campaign had earlier lambasted Vance, labeling him a “far-right MAGA extremist” and highlighting his stance as a “2020 election denier.”
“Vance is a 2020 election denier, supports a national abortion ban, and voted against IVF access,” the Biden campaign asserted.
Vance’s political evolution from a critic of Trump to a steadfast supporter has been notable. Initially critical of Trump and his rhetoric, which he once likened to that of “America’s Hitler,” Vance underwent a change in perspective by 2021. He began praising Trump’s accomplishments and aligned his views on contentious issues such as the events of January 6 and the 2020 election.
Vance’s shift in stance led to collaboration across party lines as a Senator, including co-sponsoring legislation with Sen. Sherrod Brown on railway safety and supporting initiatives like Great Lakes restoration.
In the 2022 US Senate election, Vance clinched victory for the seat previously held by Republican Rob Portman, bolstered significantly by Trump’s endorsement. Despite his initial reservations about Trump during the 2016 election, Vance has since become a staunch advocate, consistently defending Trump’s policies and actions.
The criticism from President Biden underscores the political fault lines emerging ahead of the upcoming election cycle, as Vance emerges as a pivotal figure in the Republican camp.