During a recent stop in Michigan, Republican vice-presidential nominee Senator JD Vance took an apparent jab at Vice President Kamala Harris, critiquing her leadership and the Democratic Party’s claims of standing up for the middle class. Speaking in Traverse City, Vance emphasized his own working-class roots while questioning the sincerity of Harris and other Democrats who, according to him, have failed the very people they claim to represent.
“I grew up in a working-class family,” Vance said, framing his personal story as evidence of his connection to ordinary Americans. He added, “When Kamala Harris talks about her middle-class background… they’re not telling the truth.
They’re lying to you.” Vance argued that Harris and other Democrats contributed to the hardships faced by working Americans, citing their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the enforcement of vaccine mandates, which cost many their jobs. “It is disgraceful for Kamala Harris to say that she stands for the American working man when she fired millions… for not doing what she told them to do,” Vance asserted.
Vance’s visit to Michigan comes as the state is critical for the 2024 election. The state represents a battleground for former President Donald Trump’s re-election chances, as well as important down-ballot races, including the U.S. Senate bid by former Rep. Mike Rogers.
After commending Rogers, Vance continued his critique of Harris, sarcastically referencing her first solo national interview. “Every time she answers a question, I think we gain about 100,000 votes, me and Donald Trump,” he joked.
Throughout his remarks, Vance criticized Harris for what he described as her tendency to fall back on personal anecdotes—such as her middle-class upbringing—rather than providing concrete solutions to issues like inflation, the border crisis, and global conflict. “What the hell does that have to do with lower inflation?” Vance quipped, mocking Harris’ tendency to talk about her personal experiences rather than addressing policy questions directly.
The Republican senator accused Harris of being out of touch, arguing that her administration’s policies have exacerbated the very issues she claims to address. “Kamala Harris is why we have sky-high inflation… Kamala Harris is why the border is wide open,” Vance stated, blaming her for the state of the economy, the immigration crisis, and global instability.
As Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—historically known as the Democrats’ “blue wall”—remain pivotal battlegrounds, Vance’s rhetoric signals the Republican strategy of tying the Biden-Harris administration to the economic pain felt by voters. While these states were key to Trump’s victory in 2016, President Biden narrowly reclaimed them in 2020. Vance’s speech aimed to reignite Trump’s appeal to working-class voters in the region by contrasting his message with what he views as Harris’ failure to deliver tangible results.
“Kamala Harris, you want a promotion?” Vance declared. “The message from Michigan is you’re fired. Go back to San Francisco where you belong.” The stakes in Michigan—and in states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin—are as high as ever, as both parties look to secure these crucial votes in the upcoming election.
