CNN's Dana Bash and J.D. Vance clashed during a controversial interview on Sunday. Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, accused Bash of giving Gov. Tim Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris “multiple choice answers” during the August interview, making the vice president “easy.”
“Dana, would you like to ask me a question and have me answer it, or would you like to debate these issues with me?” Vance asked after repeatedly claiming that a voter in Springfield, Ohio, had told him that immigrants were “eating their pets.”
The interview focused on a claim that Donald Trump also made during Tuesday's ABC News debate, in which he claimed Haitian immigrants were eating cats and dogs, but Ohio officials said they had no credible reports of such behavior.
“I realized when we hosted Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, we gave them options and allowed them to answer the questions. I'm happy to be here to talk about policy, but if I'm going to be interrupted every single time I open my mouth, then why am I even doing this?” Vance continued.
CNN's Dana Bash and Sen. J.D. Vance were at odds in an interview on Sunday, focusing on Donald Trump's unfounded claims that immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating dogs and cats. (Screenshot/CNN)
Springfield resident says roads are like 'Escape from New York' after Haitian migrants attack rural town
“I think I would have the same kind of interaction with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz if they made an unfounded claim with racist overtones about eating dogs and cats and then didn't answer the question. You know, I really appreciate you being on the show and I appreciate the other Republicans, but this is what I'm hearing from my constituents. I've done a lot of interviews. I spoke to people in Ohio over the weekend and they're really concerned about these allegations,” Bash replied.
“On policy, yes, I agree with you. From what I've heard, there are concerns that the numbers of immigrants are high and that integration is not happening fast enough and to a sufficient level, and that's a completely legitimate argument,” she added.
Thousands of Haitians have been arriving in Springfield since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and residents say the influx of newcomers has led to an increase in crime, unrest and car accidents. About 20,000 Haitians are in the town of 58,000. According to city authorities.
Bash pressed Vance on their claims again, arguing that the media didn't begin reporting on the impact immigration had on Springfield until he and Trump raised the issue.
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump made the remarks during a press conference at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes, California on Friday, September 13. (AP/Jay C. Hong)
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“The evidence is the direct testimony of my constituents telling me this happened. By the way, I've been trying to talk about the issue in Springfield for months, but the American media ignored it. Just last week there was a congressional hearing of an angel mom who lost her child because Kamala Harris allowed criminal immigrants into this country who then murdered her children. The American media completely ignored this until Donald Trump and I started talking about cat memes. If I — if I have to craft a story to get the American media to actually pay attention to the suffering of the American people, then I'm going to do it, Dana. Because you guys are completely leaving Kamala Harris alone,” Vance said.
He also criticized Bash for not voting against Harris, who cast the deciding vote on the anti-inflation bill, claiming that “this is why so many Americans cannot afford food and housing.”
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Bash pressed him further about his comments that he had made up the story, again questioning its accuracy.
Vance fired back, claiming the allegations came from his constituents.
“I say we create the narrative. We create the American media that focuses on it. I didn't create the influx of 20,000 illegal immigrants into Springfield because of Kamala Harris' policies. That was her policies, but certainly our focus has allowed the American media to tell this narrative and the suffering that has been caused by Kamala Harris' policies,” Vance replied.
