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Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) went head-to-head with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) on Tuesday night during the vice-presidential debate in New York City. The debate, which was more civil than recent political clashes, saw both men outline their visions for America, exchange criticisms, and attempt to demonstrate their value to their running mates.
Despite efforts by the CBS News moderators to favor Walz, it became quickly apparent — even to liberal commentators — that the Minnesota governor was severely outmatched. After the debate, Van Jones described Vance as “slick, slick, slick,” to which CNN panelist David Urban responded, “Ten out of ten for JD Vance. Ten strike… He was smooth, likable, and looked presidential.”
Donald Trump Jr., who advocated for Vance to be chosen as his father’s running mate, said, “It was a master class. He had real command of the facts.” Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany praised Vance’s performance, stating, “JD Vance was very clearly a masterful pick for Vice President. His heartfelt responses and kind demeanor were powerful.”
New York Times columnist Ross Douthat observed that the debate showcased why Vance was an ideal choice for Trump’s ticket, calling his performance “one of the best debating performances by a Republican nominee for president or vice president in recent memory.”
Throughout the debate, Vance highlighted Trump’s achievements, saying, “You’ve got to pretend that Donald Trump didn’t deliver rising take-home pay… or lower inflation, but he did,” while pointing out Harris’ record of economic failures. Vance’s composed demeanor was in sharp contrast to Walz, who often appeared rattled, especially when Vance confronted him on censorship, extracting an admission that a Harris-Walz administration would criminalize speech deemed hateful.
At one point, Vance remarked, “You blame Donald Trump. Who has been the vice president for the last three and a half years? And the answer is your running mate, not mine,” a moment that underscored the pressure Walz faced throughout the debate. National Review editor Rich Lowry and Washington Post’s Josh Rogin both noted Walz’s visible discomfort, with Rogin suggesting Walz should have done more prep work.
In moments of defeat, Walz occasionally conceded points or quickly backed down, such as when he admitted being a “knucklehead” regarding his previous misleading claims about Hong Kong. Even left-leaning commentators like MSNBC’s Chris Hayes admitted, “JD Vance is very good at this.”
While some media outlets and commentators begrudgingly acknowledged Vance’s strong performance, the overall consensus was clear: Vance dominated. A focus group conducted by pollster Frank Luntz showed a shift toward Vance, and betting markets reflected a plummeting confidence in Walz as the debate progressed. CBS News polling also confirmed Vance’s victory, with his favorability rating rising post-debate.
Lawmakers echoed these sentiments, with Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) declaring it the “most lopsided vice presidential debate ever,” while Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) hailed Vance’s performance as a clear victory. Even entrepreneur and fellow debate stage veteran Vivek Ramaswamy tweeted, “Very proud of JD for a stellar performance tonight. And my condolences to Tim Walz — it was unkind for them to put him in this position.”
