‘Have Fun’*

*Editor’s note: On March 4, 2022, Russia enacted a law that criminalizes public opposition to, or independent news reporting about, the war in Ukraine. The law makes it a crime to call the war a “war” rather than a “special military operation” on social media or in a news article or broadcast. The law is understood to penalize any language that “discredits” Russia’s use of its military in Ukraine, calls for sanctions or protests Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It punishes anyone found to spread “false information” about the invasion with up to 15 years in prison.

There are exactly five weeks to go before the U.S. presidential election. Early voting is already in full swing across 20 states. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris haven’t managed to arrange another debate. All this means the first vice presidential debate on New York's West Side will definitely be the last in this race. “Have fun,” was the advice the Republican candidate gave to his running mate, whom he planned to watch from a private jet while returning from Wisconsin. However, JD Vance did far more than that.

Just as Joe Biden's final moments after his defeat by Trump left a lasting impression (the elderly president was escorted off stage by his wife), the closing moments of this debate are sure to have a significant impact. The young Vance, with his striking blue eyes (social media users were commenting during the broadcast that they couldn’t take their eyes off him), was embraced by his slender wife, Usha, of Indian descent, whom he met while studying at Yale. In stark contrast were the hefty duo of Tim Walz and Harris. This image undermines the narrative that liberals seek to promote, portraying conservatives as relics of a bygone era. Quite the opposite: Vance could easily be seen as a compelling contender against Harris today, let alone in 2028.

Walz stumbled almost immediately, visibly thrown off by the very first question about the situation in the Middle East. The “Harris administration” (a dismissive term used by Vance) finds itself in a difficult position, facing pressure from pro-Palestinian young voters on one side while Benjamin Netanyahu looks to align more closely with Trump on the other.

As a result, Harris’ running mate panicked and, by the fourth minute, was nervously invoking Vladimir Putin. It seems that, when in doubt, the go-to move is to reference Russia.

Meanwhile, Ukraine appears to be cursed and forgotten. The CBS moderators left the topic completely out of the vice presidential debate. Not a single question, not even a hint. The word never made it into the studio, as it has become too toxic following Volodymr Zelenskyy’s recent visit to the U.S. Additionally, the Republican Vance could have seized an opportunity to score points, while Democrat Walz risked completely tanking. Ignoring the subject was clearly the safer choice.

Just as with Harris and Trump, CBS set the stage for a three-against-one format for the debate. Once again, they tried to catch Vance off guard during a live fact-checking segment.

Despite promises to avoid the mistakes of their predecessors, Walz showed himself to be anything but flexible. He stumbled once more over his own lies, notably when it was revealed that he had falsely claimed to be in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.

As anticipated, the discrepancies in the biography of Democratic vice presidential candidate Walz regarding his visits to China and Hong Kong were highlighted during the debate. When CBS moderators pressed him on it, Walz initially gave a lengthy response but later, under repeated questioning, admitted he had “misspoken,” although he insisted he was in Hong Kong during the height of the protests. In the end, he called himself a “knucklehead,” which, however, is unlikely to change his reputation as a serial liar. He has previously misrepresented his military service in Afghanistan, inflated his rank, and denied ever driving under the influence.

However, Walz really stepped in it when, during a discussion of gun violence in American schools, he said he had “become friends with school shooters.” That gaffe quickly became a meme.

In short, this version of Walz is a boon for Republicans. Trump declared that if voters are to remember one thing, let it be Walz’s “mumbling.” He also announced once again that he would not participate in any more debates with the Democrat before the election.

However, he will be visiting a new “power spot.” The Republican candidate has opted to return to Butler, where he was shot by Thomas Crooks over the summer. A photo of Trump surrounded by Secret Service agents with a raised fist beneath the American flag has become a symbol of resistance and hope for Republicans. Now he aims to inject fresh energy into his campaign at this crucial juncture in the key state of Pennsylvania.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Russia Today’s editorial board.