Vice President JD Vance’s office is addressing claims from certain “left” and “fake news” outlets, which they describe as “complete lies” regarding his recent birthday holiday with family.
“On his 41st birthday, the Vice President traveled from his home in Ohio, enjoying time with his wife and three children, but Democrats want to twist it into something about elitism,” said Wil Martin, the communications director. “People like Tommy Bater and Richard Painter have been entrenched in D.C. for years. They don’t understand how everyday families operate. The thought of family canoeing seems so alien to them, leading to these attacks on his simple birthday celebration.”
The controversy, referred to by some as “canoe gates,” stems from an order made by the Secret Service to local officials to raise the water levels of Ohio rivers.
It began with a report stating that the “JD Vance team raised Ohio River levels for family boating,” published mid-week.
In an article by The Guardian’s Stephanie Kirchgassner and David Smith, it was claimed that the water levels were adjusted for both security and recreational purposes for the Vance family, citing anonymous sources.
“One source familiar with the matter who spoke to The Guardian mentioned that the request to manage Caesar Creek Lake’s runoff was intended to create ‘ideal kayak conditions’ and aid the Vice President’s security detail,” they wrote. “However, The Guardian could not verify this particular claim.”
Kirchgassner and Smith referenced left-leaning “ethics experts” Richard Painter and Norm Eisen, both of whom have held significant roles in previous administrations. They suggested, without providing evidence, that something inappropriate occurred involving Vance and his office.
In response, a spokesperson for the Secret Service clarified that the Vice President and his team were not involved in the decision regarding the water level adjustments, which were strictly for safety reasons.
USSS spokesman Anthony Grielmi shared with Breitbart News that during a prior trip to the region prior to Vance’s birthday, the adjustments were necessary because local vessels required specific water levels. Grielmi informed that such procedures are routine, emphasizing that the decision was made solely by agents without input from the Vice President’s office.
“During my recent trip to Ohio, the Vice President’s office was not involved in the Secret Service’s decision to adjust the water levels,” Grielmi stated in an email. “It was essential to accommodate the electric vessels utilized by Secret Service, local law enforcement, and emergency responders, and these adjustments are part of standard pre-planning procedures.”
The USSS’s statement was disseminated broadly on social media, notably shared by Donald Trump Jr.
Despite this clarification, the media outlets originally reporting the story have largely avoided correcting their narratives.
A spokesperson for Vance reiterated the nature of the decision, saying, “The Secret Service often implements safety measures independently of the Vice President and his team, much like last weekend.”
As a result of these erroneous reports, Vance’s reputation has been impacted. The New Republic claimed, “JD Vance abused his power to adjust river levels for his family’s kayaking trip.”
HuffPost remarked that “JD Vance raised river levels for family vacation,” while the Daily Beast reported, “JD Vance ordered water levels raised for a family boat trip.”
Further, some former Obama administration officials inaccurately claimed that Vance and his team were part of the Secret Service’s actions.
Late-night comedian Stephen Colbert criticized Vance over the Secret Service’s actions, labeling it a “crazy corrupt baby emperor move.” The Guardian noted that Colbert’s comments were founded on the flawed original narrative.
Various prominent public figures, including Trump Jr., have weighed in on the matter.
While it’s unclear what the next steps will be, there are speculations about potential legal actions that the Vice President might consider, possibly drawing from President Trump’s history of suing media for inaccuracies.
