JD Vance compares Harris on inflation to Epstein in trafficking policy

In a recent appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Republican Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance made headlines with a controversial comparison, likening Vice President Kamala Harris’s role in addressing inflation to placing Jeffrey Epstein in charge of anti-human trafficking efforts. Vance’s remarks came as Harris unveiled a suite of economic policies aimed at addressing the rising cost of living—a key issue for many voters disillusioned with the current administration.

Vance, 40, did not hold back in his critique, arguing that entrusting Harris with managing inflation would be akin to appointing a notorious sex offender to combat human trafficking. “Giving Kamala Harris control over inflation policy, Shannon, it’s like giving Jeffrey Epstein control over human trafficking policy. The American people are much smarter than that,” Vance told Fox News anchor Shannon Bream.

The Republican nominee’s statements reflect a broader strategy to undermine Harris’s credibility and portray her as an embodiment of the failures of the Biden administration. According to Vance, Harris represents “more of the same,” suggesting that her new proposals are merely a continuation of failed policies that have led to higher prices for essential goods and services. “She is doubling down on the failed policies of the [current] administration,” he added.

Harris’s recent economic proposals aim to address the concerns of working-class families struggling with inflation. On Friday, she outlined several measures, including a national ban on “price-gouging,” a $25,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers, a $6,000 increase in the child tax credit, and other reforms. However, some economists have critiqued her price-gouging proposal as a form of price control, which they argue could have unintended negative consequences.

Polls indicate that former President Donald Trump, 78, continues to hold an edge over Harris on economic issues. Despite Harris’s efforts to appeal to voters concerned about the cost of living, Trump’s record on economic performance remains a strong point of contention. Vance’s argument is that Trump’s track record of delivering “peace and prosperity” contrasts sharply with what he describes as the detrimental effects of Harris’s policies, which he claims have resulted in “higher food prices and higher housing prices.”

Since Harris became the Democratic nominee following President Biden’s withdrawal from the race on July 21, the race has become notably competitive. The most recent RealClearPolitics aggregate of national polls shows Harris with a slim 1.5 percentage point lead over Trump. In contrast, Trump had previously held a 4.2 percentage point lead over Biden at the same stage in the 2020 campaign. The polls suggest that while battleground states remain tightly contested, Harris has made significant inroads.

Vance is positioning himself as a key attack dog for the Trump campaign, asserting that recent polling might overstate Democratic support. He described Harris’s recent uptick in polls as a temporary “sugar high” and expressed confidence in Trump’s campaign strategy. “We have certainly seen is that Kamala Harris got a bit of a sugar high a couple of weeks ago,” Vance said. “But what we’ve actually seen from our own internal data is that Kamala Harris has already leveled off.”

Additionally, Vance addressed criticisms from within the Republican Party, including from former presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who has suggested that Trump needs to broaden his appeal beyond his base. Vance acknowledged the validity of Haley’s critique but asserted that the Trump campaign is already working to reach a broader voter demographic. “I think Ambassador Haley is right that we have to reach a broader group of voters, but I think that we’re doing exactly that,” Vance noted.

The Republican nominee emphasized his campaign’s message, which contrasts Trump’s record of economic success with what he characterizes as Harris’s failures. “We’re going to prosecute the case that Donald Trump caused peace and prosperity, Kamala Harris caused chaos and lower take-home pay. I think that we get that message out there, Shannon. I feel very confident the American people are going to elect Donald Trump president in November,” Vance concluded.

As the election approaches, Vance’s aggressive rhetoric and sharp contrasts with Harris’s policies are likely to play a significant role in shaping the public debate on economic issues and presidential leadership.