Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) faced sharp criticism from Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign after making a significant gaffe during a rally in Michigan, where he was stumping for former President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. The incident occurred when Vance appeared to confuse the roles of two Biden administration cabinet members, leading to a swift response from Harris’s team.
During the rally, Vance was addressing the cost of groceries when a supporter in the crowd shouted, “Fire Granholm!” Vance responded enthusiastically, saying, “That’s right, we’re going to fire the Agriculture Secretary because she’s not doing a very good job.” However, the supporter was likely referring to Jennifer Granholm, the Secretary of Energy, not the Agriculture Secretary.
The Harris campaign’s @kamalahq account quickly seized on the mistake, posting a fact check on both X and Threads. “Jennifer Granholm is the Secretary of Energy. The Secretary of Agriculture is Tom Vilsack,” the account clarified.
Vance’s confusion may have stemmed from the fact that he was discussing food prices at the time, which would naturally involve the Department of Agriculture. However, the rally attendee was likely focused on energy issues, given that Trump has frequently blamed inflation on what he claims is insufficient oil drilling — despite the fact that recent reports show the United States is currently producing more oil than ever before.
This mix-up is just the latest challenge for Vance since being named Trump’s running mate. He has been on the defensive over past remarks about women and has struggled to gain momentum on the campaign trail. The Michigan rally itself was marked by an extremely small crowd and a notable lack of local reporters, adding to the sense of an uphill battle for the campaign.
The Harris campaign’s quick fact check highlights their readiness to pounce on any missteps by the Trump-Vance ticket, particularly as they try to paint the Republican duo as out of touch and uninformed. As the campaign progresses, such moments are likely to be leveraged by both sides in the increasingly heated race for the White House.