By Cooper Winkler '26
Less than a month out from the election, tension between Democrats and Republicans have been at an all time high. When watching the Vice Presidential Debate, many viewers expected it to be a repeat of the Trump-Harris debate, with spiteful comments and hateful jabs. However, in reality it was relatively tame. At times this debate seemed to step out of Trump-era politics and was reminiscent of the Romney-Obama debate in 2012. Both candidates willingly shook hands at the beginning and agreed on several issues. While there were few moments that added more flame to the raging fire of America’s political division, some still sparked traditional debate.
Immigration: A hot topic at polls this year, immigration was a key point both
candidates used to defend their tickets. Further reiterating Trump’s rhetoric concerning immigrants, J.D. Vance claimed that immigrants were bringing fentanyl into the country, thus causing overdose deaths. This, however, proved to be false, indicated in a NPR fact-checking article. Nearly ninety percent of fentanyl is seized from American citizens as they cross the border; “virtually none” is taken from immigrants. Simultaneously, when asked if Trump’s claims that he will separate immigrant parents and children are true, Vance refused to answer (and not for the last time). Tim Walz criticized Vance for Trump’s “demonizing” of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. This was following Trump’s claims that Haitian immigrants were eating pets in Springfield.
Gun Violence: With gun violence plaguing our nation, it was no surprise that it was a key point in the debate. Though unlike with immigration, Vance and Walz found common ground on this issue. Both shared sentiments that gun violence must be curbed despite their alternative plans to do so, and Vance even went as far as discussing his hopes for a bipartisan compromise. However, when Vance suggested they increase security in schools to help end gun violence, Walz disagreed. Walz claimed it turned schools into a “fort” and that they owe it to schoolchildren to find alternative solutions.
Election Legitimacy: Over the past four years, there has been great controversy over the legitimacy of the 2020 election. Many, led by Donald Trump, claimed that the election
had been stolen, a statement constantly reiterated by Trump. Trump even went so far as bringing this allegation into his debate against Kamala Harris, claiming he won the election. When Vance was asked this during his debate, he carefully evaded the question, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the claim. This left a stunned Walz, who capitalized on this moment, looking blankly at the camera as if he could not believe his own ears.
Few debates have a clear winner, and this debate seems no different. Both candidates made valid statements at some points and faltered at others. While Vance’s points were occasionally crisper than Walz’s, Walz was given a chance to show off his Midwestern charm and the “joy” that he believes embodies the Harris-Walz campaign. This debate was a comfort to many Americans who feared their days of bipartisan agreements were long past. Even if this debate did not persuade anyone to vote in a specific direction, it may have allowed some to believe that they may yet again see a country intact.
All Photos Courtesy of api.time.com and stream.org
Sources: 270towin.com, time.com, npr.org, cnbc.com and theguardian.com
Edited by Imogen Miller '26, Catherine Polatidis '26 and Ms. Brilliant
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