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Live VP debate fact-checks: How accurate are JD Vance and Tim Walz?

Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, left, and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, right, will debate Oct. 1, 2024, in New York City. (AP photos)

By PolitiFact Staff October 1, 2024

PolitiFact is fact-checked the first 2024 vice presidential debate Oct. 1 in New York City between Republican Sen. JD Vance and Democrat Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Read our full roundup of fact-checks here.

Live debate fact-checks

See links in live blog.

stated on December 8, 2021 in an interview with Hugh Hewitt:

Gas prices were "$1.86 when I left" the White House.

false

false

Louise Slaughter

stated on September 5, 2017 in a tweet:

Rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program "will harm our economy."

true

true

stated on March 2, 2017 in a headline:

"Doctors who discovered cancer enzymes in vaccines all found murdered."

pants-fire

pants-fire

David Menchetti

stated on November 28, 2016 in testimony before the Illinois House Labor and Commerce Committee:

"The causation standard in Indiana is exactly the same as it is in Illinois."

true

true

stated on September 16, 2016 in a White House press conference:

"If you look at any real analysis," the Trans-Pacific Partnership is "going to generate better-paying jobs that are more stable."

half-true

half-true

stated on November 17, 2015 in press release:

While the smoking rate nationally has fallen, more than 18 percent of Georgians still light up.

mostly-true

mostly-true

NextGen Climate Action Committee

stated on August 8, 2014 in a campaign ad:

Says Rick Scott "is letting Duke (Energy) keep collecting billions" despite troubled power plants.

half-true

half-true

Georgia Department of Transportation

stated on July 19, 2011 in a press release:

The Northwest Corridor highway project in Cobb and Cherokee counties "is expected to create over 9,700 jobs statewide."

false

false

Republican National Committee

stated on June 5, 2008 in in a news release:

Obama couldn't have afforded his home without Rezko's help.

false

false

X posts
stated on March 20, 2025 in a post on X:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “removed Colin Powell’s name from a list of notable Americans buried at Arlington National Cemetery.”

By Madison Czopek • March 25, 2025
Nick LaLota
stated on March 4, 2025 in a video message to constituents:

“On Feb. 25, I voted yes on a budget resolution that protects Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid while cutting some spending elsewhere."

By Julie Appleby • March 25, 2025
X posts
stated on March 23, 2025 in a post:

Video shows “leaked audio” of Vice President JD Vance criticizing Elon Musk and saying “he's making us look bad.”

By Grace Abels • March 24, 2025
Facebook posts
stated on March 19, 2025 in una publicación en Facebook:

El presidente Donald Trump “firma orden ejecutiva para obligar a los bancos a que les quiten un 10% de dinero” de sus ahorros a los inmigrantes.

By Maria Briceño • March 21, 2025
Ian Miles Cheong
stated on March 19, 2025 in an X post:

Netflix show “Adolescence” is based on Southport, England, knife attacker but the show “race swapped the actual killer from a black man/migrant to a white boy.”

By Jeff Cercone • March 21, 2025
Facebook posts
stated on March 8, 2025 in una publicación en Facebook:

“Nueva ley en EE.UU. impone cadena perpetua a inmigrantes que residen ilegalmente en el país”.

By Maria Briceño • March 21, 2025
Harriet Hageman
stated on March 16, 2025 in a podcast interview:

The federal Education Department has a “budget of about $280 billion a year. Less than 25% goes to educating our students.”

By Louis Jacobson • March 20, 2025
Facebook posts
stated on March 18, 2025 in a post on Facebook:

Files reveal that John F. Kennedy Jr. wrote a 1994 letter calling then-Sen. Joe Biden “a traitor” before Kennedy’s 1999 death.

By Madison Czopek • March 20, 2025
Facebook posts
stated on March 1, 2025 in a post:

Says Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “engaged in election interference by campaigning” in Pennsylvania for former Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

By Amy Sherman • March 20, 2025
Elon Musk
stated on February 28, 2025 in an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan:

“Social Security is the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.”

By Louis Jacobson • March 19, 2025