In a new interview with Joe Rogan, Senator JD Vance asserted that the right to free expression and thought is the defining issue of the upcoming election, and the GOP vice presidential candidate criticized Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party for “silencing people who disagree with them.”

In the extensive discussion, Vance and Rogan examined what they described as the Democratic presidential nominee’s confusing speech patterns and how, according to them, President Biden’s actions may actually benefit former President Donald Trump as Election Day approaches.

Vance, 40, identified censorship as the “biggest difference” between Trump, 78, and Harris, 60. “We’re not trying to censor our fellow Americans,” he explained on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” which aired Thursday. The Ohio senator added, “We’ll attack Kamala on her policies or her ideas, but we’re not trying to say, ‘You should be silenced because you disagree with us.’” He emphasized that this stance against censorship reflects his core beliefs, contrasting them with what he sees as a Democratic leadership “comfortable with the idea of silencing people who disagree with them.”

The Ohio senator’s outspoken stance comes as Harris campaigns on a platform of “joy” and unity, framing her opponents as threats to democracy. Rogan, with a Spotify audience of around 15 million, connected with Vance’s message, expressing frustration with a statement from Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz suggesting there’s “no guarantee to free speech on misinformation or hate speech.” Rogan voiced his discontent, and Vance called Walz’s view “totally nuts,” suggesting that “hate speech” is often subjective.

Vance also poked fun at Harris’s communication style, observing that public speaking requires skill and saying, “I think she is the Michael Jordan of using as many words as possible to say as little as possible.” He quipped, “You’re 500 words into it and you’re like, ‘What … did she just say?’” Rogan, who previously sought an interview with Harris, joked about her sometimes unclear messaging and speculated whether she might use an earpiece, to which Vance replied, “I wouldn’t be surprised.”

The discussion then shifted to recent remarks by President Biden labeling Trump supporters as “garbage,” a statement the White House has since tried to downplay. Vance argued that Biden might actually be unintentionally aiding Trump’s campaign, suggesting, “We’re gonna win, but after we win, I’m going to be convinced that Joe Biden was trying to help us the whole time.” He referenced a moment when Biden appeared with a MAGA hat in Shanksville, Pa., as an example of Biden’s actions inadvertently aligning with Trump’s image.

Vance criticized the lack of media coverage on Biden’s remarks about Trump supporters, contrasting it with coverage of a recent joke by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. “The number of mentions on CNN about [Hinchcliffe’s] joke in the last 48 hours: 143,” Vance noted, listing other networks’ coverage counts. He questioned whether Biden’s use of the term “garbage” would receive similar coverage, highlighting what he sees as a double standard. “Now what’s the difference?” he asked rhetorically. “Well, one difference is it’s a comedian telling a joke, and it’s the president of the United States telling what he actually thinks.”

On a serious note, Vance raised concerns about past allegations against second gentleman Doug Emhoff, questioning if there should be further investigation. “If you are a domestic abuser, that usually doesn’t stop with one person,” he commented, raising a rhetorical question on whether such issues should be public knowledge.

As both campaigns promote themselves as champions of freedom, Vance and Trump emphasize free speech, while Harris and Walz highlight topics like abortion and protecting democracy. Earlier in the week, Harris tried to cast Trump’s stance on suspending parts of the Constitution as a direct threat, citing the First and Second Amendments. Meanwhile, Trump and Vance have continued to criticize the Biden-Harris administration’s approach to policing social media misinformation and tech company responses, pointing to incidents like the suppression of The NY Post’s Hunter Biden story as examples.

“The true scandal of the Hunter Biden laptop,” Vance argued, “wasn’t Hunter Biden doing cocaine with a stripper” but rather “Joe Biden fundamentally traded his political influence for money.” He referenced a recent House subcommittee revelation indicating that Facebook’s decision to limit visibility on the laptop story was influenced by the anticipated Biden-Harris administration. Despite ongoing Republican frustration with Hunter Biden, Vance expressed interest in meeting him, saying, “I may be the only Republican. That dude, that dude knows how to have a good time.”

Vance also shared his suspicion that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, now distancing himself from politics, might secretly favor Trump. “My secret theory is that Zuck is now a secret Trump supporter, but he can’t say that publicly,” he suggested.

During the interview, Vance recounted a memorable moment when Trump considered unveiling him as his running mate at a rally in Butler, Pa. Vance described the shock he felt watching the footage, saying he initially thought, “Oh my God, they just killed him.” He added, “I was so pissed,” describing his reaction and readiness to protect his family.

Trump’s recent appearance on Rogan’s podcast, his first, quickly became a massive hit with over 41 million YouTube views. Rogan shared that he had negotiated with the Harris-Walz campaign for a similar interview, but the plans fell apart when the campaign requested it be shorter and remote, which Rogan declined.

{Matzav.com}