JD Vance contrasts Trump and Harris’ border policy in Phoenix speech

PHOENIX – In his second visit to Arizona since becoming the Republican vice presidential nominee, JD Vance contrasted his running mate Donald Trump’s border policy against his opponent Kamala Harris.

At the Arizona Biltmore on Thursday, Vance focused the majority of his nearly 20-minute speech toward the border, contrasting his running mate policies against the Vice President’s.

“We are going to reimplement deportations in this country. We’re going to finish that beautiful border wall along the state of Arizona and everywhere else,” Vance said. “We’re going to stop catch and release and we’re going to stop giving Medicare benefits and health care benefits to illegal aliens.”

The Trump-Vance campaign hasn’t just focused on immigration when it comes to the border but has claimed that unsecure borders have led to an increase in drugs, such as fentanyl coming into the country.

NOW: Republican VP pick JD Vance is still in the Valley, today speaking at the Biltmore.

Spoke with one voter who calls Vance “fabulous,” and says she hopes to hear more about economic policies today.

For @KTAR923. pic.twitter.com/RsBj2ONITO

— Balin Overstolz (@balin_om) September 5, 2024

Vance told the crowd of supporters that a Georgia sheriff showed him a room of all the drugs captured by officers. Among the drugs was a box of Nerds candy, which cartel members put drugs into to make it easier to get into the country.

“What a sick person we have as vice president who invites people into our country to do business instead of throwing them out,” Vance said.

The Ohio senator expressed how his mother, who struggled with opioid addiction when he was younger, was now 10 years sober. A feat he feared she wouldn’t have been able to accomplish if drugs were coming as prevalent as they are now.

Following his speech, Vance gave his remaining time to answering questions from local and national news media, offering his thoughts on a range of current issues.

Responding to a question about the Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia, where a teenager killed four people, Vance was asked what policies he supports to end school shootings. To answer he supported bolstering security in schools while claiming Harris’ answer is take peoples guns away.

On Tuesday, late Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain’s son Jim McCain announced his support for Harris and voiced his displeasure towards Donald Trump’s behavior at Arlington National Cemetery. In a response to McCain, Vance voiced that he cares more about convincing voters then McCain family members.

“Who cares what somebody’s family thinks about a presidential race. I care about these people [audience] care about the presidential race,” Vance said.

What are the big issues for supporters in the election?

Raquel, a Trump supporter, was attending her first Vance campaign event but had been to a Trump rally in the past. For her the big issues in this election were the border, inflation and world politics.

Another supporter, Angelo Gutierrez, was also at his first Vance event despite attending Trump rallies. Gutierrez, a local business owner of a repair service, said his top priority in this year’s election was the economy because he has seen firsthand how it has affected people.

“I’m still trying to help the public but and do what I can but I noticed they struggle to pay today’s prices,” Gutierrez said.

Apart from the customers experiences, he said he has seen costs for supplies increase, forcing him to raise prices for his services.

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