Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance accused Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris of driving up housing costs and praised former President Donald Trump for reducing the price of insulin in an exclusive interview with Scripps News’ Wisconsin station TMJ.
Charles Benson from Scripps News spoke with Vance prior to his scheduled speech at the Milwaukee Police Association headquarters.
Housing costs
Vance claimed that Vice President Harris is to blame for the high housing costs in the U.S. citing her border policies and tiebreaking votes in the U.S. Senate.
“Kamala Harris allowed 20 million illegal immigrants to enter and compete with Americans for limited housing,” Vance stated.
Watch: JD Vance gives exclusive interview to Scripps News Milwaukee’s Charles Benson:
Vance blames Harris for high housing costs in interview with TMJ4
Data from the Migration Policy Institute reveals that the home ownership rate among illegal immigrants is at 28%, which is slightly over 3 million.
“Additionally, [Harris] cast multiple tiebreaking votes that led to increased interest rates, making mortgages unaffordable for American families,” Vance added.
If elected, Vance promised that Trump’s administration would construct more housing and remove illegal immigrants who are competing with Americans for homes.
Prescription drug prices
Vance credited former President Trump for the $35 cap on insulin for many Americans, highlighting Trump’s policies that contributed to this price reduction.
“The policies that brought down the cost of insulin to $35 per unit were enacted during his term, and now consumers are benefiting from it,” Vance explained.
He also addressed the issue of American companies selling drugs at lower prices in Europe compared to the U.S., advocating for fair pricing for American consumers.
Red flag laws
Vance expressed support for keeping guns away from violent offenders but emphasized the importance of due process in such cases.
He emphasized the need to incarcerate more violent criminals to reduce the crime rate, asserting that a small number of individuals commit the majority of violent crimes.
FBI data shows a decrease of over 26% in murder rates in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Trade and tariffs
When asked about Trump’s call for higher tariffs, Vance supported the practice, stating that tariffs protect American manufacturing workers from unfair competition.
Vance praised Trump’s efforts in promoting American manufacturing, claiming that thousands of factories opened during Trump’s presidency.
Vance’s previous visit to Wisconsin coincided with a visit by Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz.
Vance responds to Trump’s Medal of Freedom comments
Following the interview, Vance defended Trump’s remarks regarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Medal of Honor, stating that they are distinct awards with different criteria.
Trump’s comments received criticism from the Harris campaign, but Vance, a Marine veteran, vouched for Trump’s support for veterans.
The Medal of Honor is granted to military members, while the Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to civilians.
Trump’s awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Miriam Adelson, a significant contributor to his campaigns, sparked controversy.
This article was originally published by Scripps News Milwaukee.
