Post-Debate Analysis: JD Vance, Tim Walz spar on Iran, border during debate

Walz got roughly one more minute to voice his opinion than Vance, NewsNation calculated.

During the 90-minute vice presidential debate, Minnesota’s governor spoke for 38 minutes and 9 seconds, while Vance recorded 39 minutes and 38 seconds.

Abrams said there’s “no doubt” that Trump lost his presidential debate against Harris, while Walz fell to Vance.

He owes that opinion to the Ohio senator’s behavior, telling Cuomo, Stirewalt and Vargas: “He was an empathetic guy who did a better job of answering the questions.”

“It’s about who these people are,” Abrams said.

NewsNation correspondent-at-large Geraldo Rivera agrees that both Vance and Walz showed sincerity during the debate, but that only one “emerged absolutely unscathed”: Vance.

“They were not the stereotypes. Walz did come across as the substitute teacher dealing with the snotty, sharp kid in the class. But Vance didn’t just take that stereotype. Vance proved himself to be someone who could moderate his tone, who could be agreeable where necessary.”

“Believe me, I don’t particularly care for 90% of his policies, and I think Gov. Walz is a sweet guy … but this is business,” Rivera added.

But did Vance do too well? Abrams posed a question about the potential of Trump’s ego getting in the way of his running mate gaining praise.

Geraldo doesn’t think so: “Vance proved himself to be someone who could be acceptable to a broader audience than just the ideological 2025, you know, let them eat dog guy.”

He believes that, despite Walz’s preferable policies, the Minnesota governor “treaded water.”

In the minutes following the debate, Harris took to X to praise her running mate’s performance.

“Together, @Tim_Walz and I are running a people-powered campaign. When elected, we will govern on behalf of all Americans,” she wrote.

On Truth Social, Trump commended Vance and dealt a blow to the Walz-Harris campaign.

“JD crushed it! Walz was a Low IQ Disaster – Very much like Kamala. Our Country would never be able to recover from an Administration of these two. Can you imagine them representing us with sharp, fierce Foreign Leaders? I can’t!” he shared.

Former Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, an ex-Democrat who is part of Trump’s transition team, tells NewsNation “I just wish the moderators didn’t get in the way.”

Gabbard bagged on Harris’ record and Walz’s defense of it during the debate, specifically when it comes to Iranian aggression in the Middle East. In turn, she commended Vance’s praise of Trump and his foreign policy.

When asked specifically about Trump’s comments about “blowing” Iran up, Gabbard said the former president has a “commitment to peace.”

She said Vance likely won over undecided voters with his debate performance.

“This isn’t something he just did as a performance on the debate stage. This is something I’ve seen him do in his over 100 interviews with journalists,” she said.

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., tells NewsNation that, despite Vance’s civil approach to the debate, he was “trying unsuccessfully to defend a dangerous agenda from Donald Trump.”

Kelly pointed to reproductive rights as an issue where the Trump-Vance ticket aren’t “standing with women and their health care.”

Arizona, the only swing state that is also a border state, has a special relationship with immigration.

Kelly pointed to the bipartisan border bill (which Walz also brought up during the debate) as the “most hypocritical thing I’ve seen” in his time at the Senate.

Harris, he said, will pass that legislation “when Donald Trump is out of the picture.”

NewsNation’s panelists said the CBS moderators, Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan, came prepared for presidential-level pandemonium — and they didn’t get it.

“They were overmodulated. They came in ready to stand up and not get pushed around, and instead they found these cordial, courtly, gentlemanly fellows. They were mismatched,” Stirewalt said.

One instance of this dynamic is when, after a back-and-forth between the two nominees on the border, Vance continued to speak, saying the moderators were fact-checking him when they said they would not.

Walz began responding to Vance, resulting in both candidates ignoring the moderators who tried to regain control of the debate.

After a few attempts to retake control, CBS cut the candidates’ mics and moved on to another question directed at Walz.

“Gentleman, the audience can’t hear you because your mics are cut. We have so much we want to get to,” moderator Margaret Brennan said.

Vargas acknowledged that Vance was spreading misinformation about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, but “he was just trying to finish his answer.”

“And they should’ve let him,” Cuomo agreed.

Bill O’Reilly tells NewsNation panelists Chris Cuomo, Elizabeth Vargas, Chris Stirewalt and Dan Abrams he thinks the GOP vice presidential candidate did more for his ticket than Walz did.

“What JD Vance accomplished was he made himself human,” O’Reilly added,”unlike Donald Trump, who never does that. And he made himself accessible.”

Though he thinks Vance won, he said, “Walz wasn’t bad.”

NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo, Elizabeth Vargas, Chris Stirewalt and Dan Abrams weighed in on the debate.

Stirewalt said the pace of the event was “very incremental,” but that may be for the better.

“[It’s] quite pleasant to have a normal conversation between two human beings who seem to have done some homework … Can you imagine, policy actually coming into the discussion? Good for them,” Stirewalt said.

Abrams said that, despite unfavorable polling numbers toward the Ohio senator, Vance was empathetic and measured. The candidates’ consistently kind approach to each other, Cuomo added, was refreshing to see.

“Boy, was it clear that both men there weren’t looking to make you hate somebody else,” he said. “And we did not see that in the presidential debate.”

Bill O’Reilly agreed that the pair had a “much better” time than the September presidential debate, but he lamented that both Vance and Walz “still dodged” questions.

Following suit, Vance thanked the moderators, viewers and Walz for participating in the vice presidential debate.

He brought up energy policy, telling a story about when his grandmother was unable to afford heat during Ohio’s winter.

“I believe, as a person who wants to be your next vice president, that we are a rich and prosperous enough country where every American whether they’re rich or poor ought to be able to turn on their heat,” he said, blaming Harris for making America “worse.”

He said that Americans won’t be able to live their “American dream” unless Trump takes office once again.

“Whether you vote for me or you vote for Tim Walz, I just want to say I’m so proud to be doing this, and I’m rooting for you. God bless you and good night,” he said.

Walz thanked CBS, Vance and the people watching, telling viewers “the support of the democracy matters, it matters that you’re here.”

He mentioned some of Harris’ biggest endorsements — including Taylor Swift, Dick Cheney and Bernie Sanders — who he said “don’t all agree” on everything, but are “optimistic people.”

“Now look, we all know who Donald Trump is … Senator Vance tonight made it clear he will stand with Donald Trump’s agenda, he will continue to push down that road,” Walz said.

“Kamala Harris is bringing us a new way forward. She’s bringing us a politics of joy,” he added.

When asked if he would challenge the 2024 election results, even if every governor certified their states’ results, Vance did not clarify what he would do.

“My own belief is that we should fight about those issues, debate those issues, peacefully in the public square,” Vance said. He emphasized that Trump “peacefully” transferred power on Jan. 20, 2021, despite what happened Jan. 6.

Walz said Vance’s comments are “troubling,” bringing up the dozens of police officers injured during the violent chaos of the insurrection. He called the GOP’s view of that day as “revisionist history.”

“When this is over, we need to shake hands, this election, and the winner needs to be the winner. This has got to stop. It’s tearing this country apart,” Walz said.

Walz said paid family medical leave helps children get a good start, eases burdens on parents and helps retain the American workforce.

He emphasized the importance of getting a national paid leave program in place for new parents: “What we’re saying is the economy works best when it works for all of us.”

The Minnesota governor pointed to the fact that those with leave typically work for large corporations, rather than middle class jobs.

“This is the case of an economy that Donald Trump has set for the wealthiest amongst us,” Walz said. “He’s willing to give those tax breaks to the wealthiest.”

Vance said he thinks there is a bipartisan solution to this issue, referencing his wife, Usha, and how hard it is to be a working parent.

“The cultural pressure on young families and especially young women I think makes it really hard for people to choose the family model they want,” Vance said.

He suggested a family care model that “makes choice possible,” allowing parents to choose whether they want extended time off or to opt for childcare so they can return to work.

Walz nodded along with his statements, saying “I don’t think Senator Vance and I are that far apart” in his rebuttal.

What he disagreed with was how to fund it, saying that tariffs would just add burden to parents.

While live-posting during the vice presidential debate, the Republican nominee and former president clarified his stance on a national abortion ban.

In the Trump-Harris September debate, Trump said he had “concepts of a plan” to replace the Affordable Care Act. His running mate defended him Tuesday, saying: “You’re not going to propose a 900-page bill standing on a debate stage, it would bore everyone to tears.”

Vance expanded on some of his ticket’s plan, assuring that Americans with preexisting conditions would not lose coverage. He did not explain further how a GOP plan would do so.

He also claimed Trump implemented some of his healthcare changes during his time in the White House, with Vance saying his running mate “worked in a bipartisan way” to save Obamacare during his term.

Walz pointed to Trump’s 2016 campaign, which promised to repeal on day one. It didn’t happen, with the final dissenting vote coming from Arizona Sen. John McCain.

“What Sen. Vance just explained might be worse than a concept. Because what he just explained is pre-Obamacare … What they’re saying is, if you’re healthy, why should you be paying more?” Walz said.

Walz said those who are older, sicker and with preexisting conditions would be thrown to the wayside if new national healthcare were implemented.

NewsNation’s Kellie Meyer, who is in the hall tonight for the vice presidential debate, is hearing from her GOP sources who are effervescent in their praise of the Ohio Senator and believe Walz has not performed as well.

A look at what they’re saying:

There have been moments of dissent but also moments of kindness during the vice presidential debate. Kellie Meyer, who is reporting from the debate hall, notes the two nominees smiled at each other as they entered the debate hall earlier this evening as well.

Vance pointed to Harris’ border policy as a way to explain rising housing costs, blaming migrants who are “competing” with Americans for homeownership.

He doubled down on lowering gas prices and fracking as a possible solution, adding Trump’s call to “drill baby, drill.”

Vance suggested building homes on federal land but did not specify which would be used. He only specified that these aren’t “national parks.”

Here are the Trump-Vance campaign promises:

• Seize federal lands to build homes
• Remove regulation
• Provide tax breaks
• Cut back on immigration

Walz said Vance’s view of federal land is viewing America’s natural beauty and the housing its citizens deserve as a “commodity.”

He instead touted the Harris-Walz plan to offer assistance for first-time home buyers.

“We can’t blame immigrants … The fact of the matter is that we don’t have enough naturally affordable housing. But we can make sure that the government is sure to kickstart it, create that base,” he said.

The Harris-Walz campaign promises:

• $25,00 down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers
• $10,000 tax credit
• Building 3 million new homes

Vance said he trusts local law enforcement to make decisions on where the onus lies in shooting situations.

“A lot of kids are going to experience this terrible epidemic of gun violence,” Vance said. “Of course, our hearts go out to the families that are affected by this terrible stuff.”

He brought up illegal firearms in the country, tying them to drug cartels that he says have flourished under the Biden-Harris administration. To fix it, Vance said, “we have to increase security in our schools,” including stronger doors, windows and more school resource officers.

Walz said the solution is more research into gun violence. He said that just living with fear and fortifying schools could be something of the past if research points to new solutions.

“I’m a hunter. I own firearms. The vice president is. We understand that the second amendment is there, but our first responsibility is to our kids, to figure this out,” Walz said.

Walz blamed Trump for losing “52 years of personal autonomy,” after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, telling the story of a Texas mother who was denied medical care and nearly died.

He pointed to Project 2025, which calls for restricting the procedure through a limit on mail-order pills and penalizing providers. Other health care services and social services like Medicare and Social Security would be scaled back and privatized as well.

“[In Minnesota] we trust women, we trust doctors,” he said.

Vance said his party “has to do so much better” at earning the American people’s trust regarding reproductive rights.

He pointed to Trump’s preference for states to decide, saying it makes the most sense in a “very very messy and divided country.”

Here’s where the pair previously stood on the issue:

Vance:

• Is opposed to abortion and declared himself “100% pro-life” during his 2022 Senate run, with his policy on exceptions in the case of rape or incest changing to be more forgiving in recent months.
• Told Fox News’ Sean Hannity he stands with Trump’s view that abortion should be left to the states.

Walz:

• In January 2023, he signed a bill codifying abortion rights for Minnesota following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022.
• Signed an executive order shielding people seeking or providing abortions in his state from facing legal consequences in other states.
• Vowed to reject requests to extradite anyone accused of committing acts related to reproductive health care that are not criminal offenses in Minnesota.

NewsNation’s Cassie Buchman contributed to this report.

Vance’s past comments about his now-running mate Trump were far from praise, calling him “a total fraud,” “a moral disaster” and “America’s Hitler.”

When asked about his past comments, the Ohio senator said he is always open about these messages,

“When you screw up, when you misspeak, when you get something wrong and you change your mind, you ought to be honest with the American people about it,” Vance said.

He added that a lot of things could’ve been better during Trump’s administration, but blamed Congress’ inaction for some of the issues.

The moderators brought up a claim Walz made that he was in China during the spring of 1989 when pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square erupted into violence in June. It’s been reported he didn’t travel there until August.

Walz came back home and started a program to take young people to China, he claimed, acknowledging that he got caught up in rhetoric and made mistakes.

“I have tried to do the best I can, and I’m a knucklehead at times,” Walz said.

NewsNation’s Kellie Meyer notes that Vance and Walz are exhibiting contrasting debate styles. Vance is not using his pen and pad of paper, similar to Trump in September’s debate. Walz, on the other hand, has jotted notes, similar to Harris.

Walz explained Harris’ economic plan and how it would be funded.

“To do the things she wants to do, we’ll just ask the wealthiest to pay their fair share,” Walz said.

The plan includes:

• Cutting taxes from small businesses and lowering the cost of starting a new business
• Expanding the small business tax deduction from $5,000 to $50,000, which is 10 times the current relief
• Providing incentives for local governments to cut so-called “red tape” by simplifying tax filing for small businesses

Walz also called out Trump for tax cuts for America’s richest, honing in on his and Harris’ middle-class upbringings.

In response, Vance praised Trump’s economic policies and 2016 administration, saying “that is a record that I’m proud to run on.” He cited higher take-home pay and lower inflation.

He also pointed to Kamala Harris’ tenure in the White House, claiming she raised grocery, gas and housing costs rather than implementing her newest ideas.

“Kamala Harris has already done it,” Vance said. “She’s been the vice president for three and a half years.”

Former President Donald Trump and his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. both lambasted the moderators on social media for the mic-cut moment.

On Truth Social, the Republican nominee said moderator Margaret Brennan lied about border issues and claimed she cut Vance’s mic to “stop him from correcting her.”

Meanwhile, the younger Trump called CBS News “Fake News hacks” and called moderators Norah O’Donnell and Brennan “the enemy of the people.”

After a back-and-forth between the two nominees on the border, Vance continued to speak, saying the moderators were fact-checking him when they said they would not. Walz began responding to Vance, resulting in both candidates ignoring the moderators who tried to regain control of the debate.

After a few attempts to retake control, CBS cut the candidates’ mics and moved on to another question directed at Walz.

“Gentleman, the audience can’t hear you because your mics are cut. We have so much we want to get to,” moderator Margaret Brennan said.

Vance did not elaborate on whether he would deport parents who entered the country illegally, instead pointing to the “real family separation policy in this country” of migrant children “lost” by border officials.

Walz acknowledged that fentanyl is a crisis in America, but refused to pin it on border crossings or Harris’ policies.

He referenced the bipartisan border bill which Trump helped tank, according to Walz.

“It gives him a campaign issue. What would Donald Trump talk about if we actually did some of these things?” Walz asked.

He also called out the GOP for “dehumanizing” other people with their border policies, including the community of Springfield, Ohio.

Vance broke down what his ticket’s “largest mass deportation plan in American history” would entail.

He said, if elected, the GOP ticket would reimplement Trump’s policies, build the wall and “stop the bleeding” caused by Kamala Harris’ “wide open southern border.”

Vance said his plan would be to remove migrants who have committed “some form of crime” and make it harder for migrants to work for less than minimum wage.

Vance did not elaborate on whether he would deport parents who entered the country illegally, instead pointing to the “real family separation policy in this country” of migrant children “lost” by border officials.

Walz acknowledged that fentanyl is a crisis in America, but refused to pin it on border crossings or Harris’ policies.

He referenced the bipartisan border bill which Trump helped tank, according to Walz.

“It gives him a campaign issue. What would Donald Trump talk about if we actually did some of these things?” Walz asked.

He also called out the GOP for “dehumanizing” other people with their border policies.

Vance called Hurricane Helene and its aftermath “unbelievable” and “unspeakable,” which Walz echoed in his response.

The Ohio senator brought up carbon emissions claiming “we’re the cleanest economy in the entire world.”

He said, if the U.S. wants clean water, the best thing to do is double down on American production.

Walz agreed with Vance on investments in the United States, giving the Biden administration credit for steps he said are already being taken.

“The solution for us is to continue to move forward,” Walz said.

“Climate change is real,” he added before referencing Trump saying the phenomenon was “a hoax.”

NewsNation’s Kellie Meyer reports from the debate hall that after the two vice presidential nominees shook hands, Vance said “good to meet you,” to Walz.

Vance then asked to shake Walz’s hand a second time on camera and Walz agreed.