Walz decries Trump's 'fickle' leadership; Vance stresses 'peace through strength'

▲ Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a vice presidential debate with Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance in New York on Oct. 1, 2024, in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Yonhap)

▲ Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance speaks during a vice presidential debate with Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in New York on Oct. 1, 2024 in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Yonhap)

US-vice presidential debate

Walz decries Trump's 'fickle' leadership; Vance stresses 'peace through strength'

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (Yonhap) -- Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance sparred over foreign policy, immigration and other top election-season issues during what could be their only vice presidential debate before the Nov. 5 general election.

The debate, hosted by CBS News, drew keen attention as Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her Republican rival Donald Trump are striving to court undecided swing state voters, with various polls showing the vice president and former president in a neck-and-neck race.

On the first question of whether he would support a preemptive strike by Israel on Iran in the wake of the Islamic republic's missile attacks this week, Walz argued that Trump exhibited "fickle" leadership during his presidency. Vance said that there was no major conflict breakout during Trump's time in office.

"Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon than they were before because of Donald Trump's fickle leadership," Walz said, referring to the former Trump administration's decision to withdraw from a landmark Iranian nuclear deal in 2018.

He also said that Trump "will go to whoever has the most flattery or where it makes sense to him."

The Democratic candidate described Harris as having "steady" leadership.

"What we've seen out of Vice President Harris is ... we've seen steady leadership. We've seen a calmness that is able to draw on the coalitions to bring them together, understanding that our allies matter," he said.

"When our allies see Donald Trump turn towards (Russian President) Vladimir Putin, turn towards North Korea ... when we start to see that type of fickleness around holding the coalitions together, we will stay committed."

Vance hit back, claiming that Trump actually delivered stability in the world through "effective deterrence" during his Oval Office term.

"Donald Trump recognized that for people to fear the United States, you needed peace through strength. They needed to recognize that if they got out of line, the U.S. global leadership would put stability and peace back in the world," he said.

The senator also posed a question: "When was the last time that an American president did not have a major conflict during his time in office?

"The only answer is during the four years that Donald Trump was president," he said.

As for their answers to the question on a potential preemptive strike by Israel on Iran, Vance said it is up to Israel to determine what they need to keep their country safe. Walz underscored that the U.S. will protect its and allied forces, while warning there will be "consequences."

The debate came after Iran fired about 180 missiles against Israel in retaliation for the recent assassinations of the leaders of two Iranian-backed militant groups: Hamas and Hezbollah.

The allegations of Walz's ties to China also emerged as a topic during the debate. Waltz used to be a teacher in China and visited the country dozens of times -- a record that has become fodder for attacks by Republicans at a time of an intensifying Sino-U.S. competition.

Walz highlighted his experience in China to serve his nation.

"I learned a lot from China. I hear the critiques of this," he said.

"I would make the case that Donald Trump should have come on one of those trips with us. I guarantee you he wouldn't be praising (Chinese President) Xi Jinping about COVID, and I guarantee you he wouldn't start a trade war that he ends up losing. This is about trying to understand the world."

Vance used his debate time to explain his childhood life in a working-class family, asserting the need for "better" leadership in the White House to ensure that the "American dream" is attainable.

The two also clashed over immigration, gun violence, the economy and other issues.

(END)

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved