GASLIGHTING

Vance says 'no' Trump didn't lose the 2020 election

HANNAH DEMISSIE
Wed, October 16, 2024 

In his most direct answer yet of this election cycle, GOP vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance said he does not believe former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election.

Vance's response occurred when a reporter asked, "What message do you think it sends to Independent voters when you do not directly answer the question, 'Did Donald Trump lose in 2020?'"

"On the election of 2020, I've answered this question directly a million times. No, I think there are serious problems in 2020 so did Donald Trump lose the election? Not by the words that I would use," Vance responded.

"But look, I really couldn't care less if you agree or disagree with me on this issue."

PHOTO: Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance speaks during a campaign event in Williamsport, Pa., Oct. 16, 2024. (Matt Rourke/AP)

In a recently resurfaced clip from Spectrum News 1 in 2022, Vance said, "Yeah, I do," when asked if he believed the 2020 election was stolen.

President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election by more than 7 million votes.

Vance's response comes after weeks of being asked by reporters if the former president lost the 2020 election.

MORE: Vance stands by Trump's false claims about Venezuelan gangs in Aurora, Colorado

This past Sunday, in an interview with ABC's Martha Raddatz on "This Week," Vance continued to dodge when asked directly if Trump lost the 2020 election

"Martha, you've you asked this question. I've been asked this question 10 times in the past couple of weeks. Of course, Donald Trump and I believe there were problems in 2020," Vance said.

Pressed again by Raddatz, Vance replied, "I've said repeatedly I think the 2020 election had problems. You want to say rigged? You want to say he won? Use whatever vocabulary term you want."

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump speaks during a Univision Noticias town hall event in Doral, Fla., Oct. 16, 2024. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Taking questions from reporters at a campaign event in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, ABC News asked the Ohio senator if he was concerned about election misinformation could have an impact this election cycle, Vance said he was concerned.

"I talk to people every now and then who will come up to me and say, 'Well, you know, there are too many problems out there. We don't trust the people who are going to count our ballots, and you know, so I'm not going to get out there and vote.' That's the exact opposite attitude you should be taking," Vance said.

Trying to ease those who might have doubts about the election, Vance said that those who will be working the polls on election day are the same people in their community.

"Here's something else that I think people don't realize is, if you're a local voter in a place like Williamsport, the people who are counting your ballots are often your neighbors. And again, it's the local elections, and especially in our small and rural areas, it's your neighbors who are counting these votes, it's your neighbors who are counting these ballots."

Vance says 'no' Trump didn't lose the 2020 election originally appeared on abcnews.go.com