In a heated moment on the campaign trail, Ohio Senator and Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance came under fire for comments referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as “trash.” The remark, made just a day before the highly anticipated election, has sparked significant backlash and intense reactions across the political spectrum. MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace sharply condemned Vance’s comment on air, underscoring the polarizing language used in the final stretch of a fiercely competitive campaign.
Nicolle Wallace Calls Out Vance for “Effing Up”
Following Vance’s controversial statement, MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace did not hold back her criticism. Speaking on her program, Deadline: White House, Wallace expressed dismay at Vance’s language, particularly in how it singled out Harris as “trash.” “In my humble view, lights out,” Wallace said, directing her critique squarely at the Ohio senator. She added, “Women, you can disagree with us. We’ve actually learned to take it for our whole careers all the time in every forum. But you call us trash? Oh, oh, oh J.D. Vance, you just effed up in a way I’ve never seen in my political life, and I worked for Sarah Palin.”
Wallace’s remarks reflect a broader conversation around civility in political discourse, especially in a campaign season that has already seen its fair share of inflammatory statements. Wallace, with her background working for Republican figures, including former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, remarked, “I mean, what just happened?” indicating her disbelief over Vance’s choice of words.
The Controversial Statement: Vance Rallies Supporters in Atlanta
The incident took place during a campaign rally in Atlanta, where Vance was addressing supporters in the final hours before Election Day. Seeking to energize the crowd, Vance declared, “In two days, we are gonna take out the trash in Washington, D.C., and the trash’s name is Kamala Harris.” The phrase seemed intended to resonate with the frustrations of Trump supporters, but the personal nature of the remark has led many to question Vance’s approach.
Vance’s rhetoric appeared to be a response to recent comments by President Joe Biden, who had suggested that certain types of Trump supporters, particularly those engaged in “hateful rhetoric,” were akin to “garbage.” While Biden later clarified his statement as a condemnation of inflammatory speech, rather than Trump supporters themselves, Vance’s comments sought to flip that narrative, accusing Biden’s administration—and specifically Vice President Harris—of being out of touch with American values.
Biden’s Clarification: What He Actually Said
President Biden’s original comments were part of a broader critique against divisive rhetoric, particularly following a rally in Madison Square Garden where Trump supporters reportedly made disparaging remarks about Puerto Rico. In a post on the platform X (formerly Twitter), Biden said he was referring specifically to the “hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage — which is the only word I can think of to describe it.”
The president’s clarification was meant to distinguish between criticism of extreme rhetoric and the broader group of Trump’s supporters. However, Vance seized on Biden’s phrasing as a rallying point, asserting that Biden and his administration were dismissing all Trump supporters as “trash” and that Harris, as Biden’s second-in-command, was representative of this attitude.
A Pre-Election Flashpoint with Polling in a Dead Heat
Vance’s remark has become a flashpoint in the election’s final hours, with polling showing an exceptionally close race. According to the latest polling average by The Hill/Decision Desk HQ, both Harris and Trump are tied at 48.4 percent support, illustrating just how tight this presidential contest remains. With critical swing states still up for grabs, every statement and rallying cry has the potential to sway undecided voters, making Vance’s comment particularly high-stakes.
Political analysts and pundits have noted that Vance’s incendiary language could galvanize certain factions of Trump’s base while potentially alienating moderate and undecided voters. Nicolle Wallace’s on-air criticism has only amplified the attention around the remark, emphasizing the tensions between those seeking a more restrained discourse and those who favor an aggressive, confrontational approach.
Campaigns Double Down as Election Day Nears
As Election Day looms, Vance’s statement has placed further emphasis on the rhetoric surrounding the Harris-Trump showdown. Both campaigns are pushing hard in battleground states, hoping to gain an edge in a contest that is now being described as “too close to call.”
The impact of Vance’s comments may become clearer as the final results roll in, but for now, they underscore the heated environment of American politics and the challenges facing candidates in navigating passionate supporters and critical opponents alike. Wallace’s rebuke serves as a reminder that, even in a high-stakes campaign, language remains a powerful tool—one that can either mobilize or backfire.
