JD Vance Advocates for 1M Deportations, Backs Extra Votes for Parents

Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance recently defended his comments regarding women and families without children, the Trump campaign’s policies on undocumented immigrants, and more in an extensive interview on “This Week” with co-anchor Jonathan Karl. This interview is set to air in full on Sunday morning.

As the race for the elections tightens, especially with Vice President Kamala Harris heading the Democratic ticket, the Ohio senator conveyed that he and Trump are “extremely confident” about their chances of winning the election.

“I think we’re going to win. I also think that we must work as hard as possible in the remaining time to convince Americans to vote for us,” Vance shared with Karl. “That’s the name of the game.”

Vance has faced scrutiny over remarks made about Americans without children. A notable instance was his 2021 interview with Tucker Carlson, where he characterized prominent Democrats, including Harris, as “childless cat ladies.”

At a speech for the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Vance suggested implementing a system where parents would have extra votes. “The Democrats are talking about giving votes to 16-year-olds, but let’s consider this instead,” he stated. “Let’s give votes to all children in this country, but parents should control those votes. When you go to the polls as a parent, you should hold more power.”

During the interview, Vance claimed his idea was a “thought experiment” rather than an actual policy proposal in response to Democratic initiatives aimed at younger voters. He expressed regret that the media and the Harris campaign distorted his words into something more concrete than intended. “I want us to be more pro-family,” he asserted.

Vance elaborated that there are policy objectives underpinning his pro-family perspective, touching on the economic hardships families face, including rising costs of goods and medical expenses. He mentioned that he and Trump have plans to reduce housing and food costs, though specifics weren’t provided in the interview.

During an interview with Fox News, Trump highlighted his approach to lowering costs: “We’re gonna drill, baby, drill,” emphasizing energy policies as a solution. Additionally, Trump has called for increased tariffs and tax cuts as part of his economic strategy.

As for immigration, Vance discussed the ongoing migrant crisis, placing blame on Harris and the Biden administration for their policies, such as ending the “Remain in Mexico” policy. When questioned on the logistics of the Trump campaign’s mass deportation proposal of as many as 20 million immigrants—a plan experts have labeled impractical—Vance suggested a gradual approach. “You start with what’s achievable,” he stated.

Vance proposed that prioritizing the deportation of violent criminals and making it more difficult to hire undocumented labor would substantially address illegal immigration issues. “Let’s focus on deporting 1 million first. That’s where Kamala Harris has failed, and then we can move forward,” he added.

Vance echoed Trump’s sentiments regarding the significance of the vice-presidential selections, stating that voters primarily focus on the presidential candidates. After Trump raised questions about Vance’s readiness to assume the presidency if necessary, Vance strongly affirmed that Trump has confidence in his potential as a leader.

Regarding recent controversies, including false claims about policies of Democratic vice-presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz on transgender youth, Vance repeated misinformation during the interview. He alleged that Walz supported actions that would allow the state to take children away from parents not consenting to gender reassignment, a mischaracterization of the legislation designed to protect the rights of transgender individuals.

Vance refuted that Walz’s policies involved “kidnapping” but reiterated his stance in response to critics of the law, despite pushback from Karl during their discussion. The law in question is intended to ensure access to gender-affirming care, giving courts authority in custody disputes for those seeking treatment in Minnesota.

Lastly, Vance addressed a racist attack targeting his wife, Usha, by white nationalist Nick Fuentes, who dined with Trump. Fuentes made derogatory comments about Usha, which Vance robustly defended against, emphasizing her qualities and his admiration for her. “If these guys want to attack my views or my personality, go ahead. But don’t attack my wife. She’s out of your league,” he responded.

Trump has received criticism for his association with Fuentes but has not categorically denounced his racist views. Vance defended Trump, claiming his willingness to engage with a wide array of people does not equate to an endorsement of their beliefs.

Source: ABC News