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People Are Calling Tim Walz’s Mike Pence Line The Knockout Line Of The Debate

"Well, it came pretty late, but that 2020/Jan 6 section was quite a moment!"

Matt Stopera
by Matt Stopera

BuzzFeed Staff

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Well, that's over.

CBS News Vice Presidential Debate: Two men, one in a suit and tie, stand at podiums discussing campaign issues for the upcoming election
The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Images

The Vice Presidential debate was seen as "largely cordial," but there's one moment that most people are calling *the* moment of the night.

JD Vance and Mike Pence shake hands and engage in conversation on stage at the Vice Presidential Debate
Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

That moment happened late in the debate when January 6 and the 2020 election were brought up.

THE ONLY HEADLINE IN TOMORROW’S PAPERS SHOULD BE THAT JD VANCE REFUSED TO ANSWER WHETHER TRUMP LOST THE 2020 ELECTION.

— Jon Cooper 🇺🇸 (@joncoopertweets) October 2, 2024
Twitter: @joncoopertweets

When asked, point blank, if Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, JD Vance gave a non-answer about censorship and the future.

Walz: Trump is still saying he didn't lose the election. Did he lose the 2020 election?

Vance: Did Kamala Harris censor Americans?

Walz: That is a damning nonanswer. pic.twitter.com/f59Q8H1BA4

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 2, 2024
Twitter: @Acyn
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"Tim, I'm focused on the future," Vance replied. "That is a damning non-answer," Walz clapped back.

Vote Save America 👀 https://t.co/GVtb5OpmxL pic.twitter.com/kWKrm0eFqB

— Vote Save America (@votesaveamerica) October 2, 2024
Twitter: @votesaveamerica

Walz expanded on that answer and brought Mike Pence into it.

Walz: Look, when Mike Pence made that decision to certify the election, that's why Mike Pence isn't on this stage.. America, I think you’ve got a really clear choice on who’s going to honor Democracy and who’s going to honor Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/aPrhzEB6dN

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 2, 2024
Twitter: @Acyn

"He lost the election. This is not a debate. It's not anything anywhere other than in Donald Trump's world, because, look, when Mike Pence made that decision to certify that election, that's why Mike Pence isn't on this stage."

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

"What I'm concerned about is where is the firewall with Donald Trump? Where is the firewall if he knows he could do anything, including taking an election and his Vice President's not going to stand to it. That's what we're asking you, America. Will you stand up? Will you keep your oath of office even if the President doesn't?"

A politician wearing a suit stands at a clear podium, speaking and pointing upward, with a background featuring stars and stripes
Cbs Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images

If you didn't know, Vance said he wouldn't have certified the 2020 election.

Two men, J.D. Vance and Tim Ryan, are shown on large screens at a vice-presidential debate on CBS News. Ryan is making a speech while Vance looks down
Nurphoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Pence, on the other hand, certified the election. That pissed Trump off, and he tweeted this on January 6:

A tweet from Donald J. Trump criticizing Mike Pence on January 6, 2021, for not challenging election results. Twitter has flagged the tweet for disputing election fraud claims
@realDonaldTrump

People consider Pence's certification of the 2020 election one of the reasons why he isn't Trump's running mate in 2024.

Mike Pence, dressed in a suit with a tie, holding a microphone labeled "JPOST" at an event
Noam Galai / Getty Images

Naturally, Walz supporters are calling this the "most memorable and impactful moment" of the debate.

This was the most memorable and impactful moment of tonight's debate https://t.co/uQkWjt77hH

— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) October 2, 2024
Twitter: @TVietor08

"Vance was doing well tonight. And then Walz asked a direct question about the 2020 election, and Vance ran from it like a bat out of hell," this person said.

Vance was doing well tonight. And then Walz asked a direct question about the 2020 election, and Vance ran from it like a bat out of hell.

— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) October 2, 2024
Twitter: @davidaxelrod

"Well, it came pretty late, but the 2020/Jan 6 section was quite a moment," another person said.

Well, it came pretty late, but that 2020/Jan 6 section was quite a moment!

— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) October 2, 2024
Twitter: @jonfavs

And this person said: "This is the clip that will be replayed over and over again this week."

WOW! Tim Walz just asked J.D. Vance straight up if Trump lost the 2020 election and Vance refused to answer.

This is the clip that will be replayed over and over again this next week. Well played! pic.twitter.com/07fqrmkqax

— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) October 2, 2024
Twitter: @krassenstein

Because this is 2024, this exchange is becoming a meme.

when my wife asks if I’ve emptied the dishwasher pic.twitter.com/jFyj6jVjEX

— Ben Wexler (@mrbenwexler) October 2, 2024
Twitter: @mrbenwexler

You'll probably have to see this face all over your feeds for the next 30 days.

He couldn’t answer if they will attempt to steal the election again. lol. 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩#VPDebate2024 #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/AbMQ41aq3W

— Bravo’s Prison Pipeline (@livelovesimone) October 2, 2024
Twitter: @livelovesimone

Bye!

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