A video circulated online in October 2024 that truly shows Republican Ohio Sen. JD Vance twice falsely claiming that former U.S. President Donald Trump won the 2020 election. The political comedy duo The Good Liars recorded the video in 2022, during Vance's run for Senate.
The clip resurfaced following the CBS News vice-presidential debate on Oct. 1, 2024. During a discussion about the U.S. Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021 — a violent protest led by Trump's supporters that resulted in more than 140 injured law enforcement officers and four subsequent officer suicides, as well as others who died in connection with the events of the day — Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz asked Vance whether Trump lost the 2020 election.
Walz asked, "Did he lose the 2020 election?" Vance responded, "Tim, I'm focused on the future. Did Kamala Harris censor Americans from speaking their mind in the wake of the 2020 COVID situation?"
Walz called Vance's response "a damning nonanswer."
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
Joe Biden won the 2020 election, despite Trump's claims otherwise.
Comedy Duo Asked Vance About 2020 Election in 2022
Two days after the debate, on Oct. 3, the political comedy duo The Good Liars posted a video recorded in a Hilton-owned hotel. The video showed Good Liars personality Jason Selvig asking Vance whether Trump won the 2020 election. The post (archived) read, "JD Vance refused to answer this question at the debate but he told us Donald Trump won the 2020 election."
In the video, Selvig asked, "Who won the 2020 election? Just answer, did Donald Trump win, yes or no?" Vance answered, "Yes." Selvig replied, "He did win?" Vance once again answered, "Yep." Selvig then questioned whether Vance would concede if his opponent received more votes. Vance did not answer yes or no.
A TikTok video posted by The Good Liars helped to clarify that they recorded the clip of Selvig confronting Vance in 2022, while campaigning for his Senate seat. They also published an Instagram video further discussing the same clip.
Confusing Posts
Some internet users including X account Kamala's Wins (@harris_wins) — which supports Vice President Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign — reposted (archived) the video from The Good Liars on Oct. 3, 2024, and claimed the clip displayed "new footage." This choice of words led some replying users to wrongly believe The Good Liars recorded their video after the debate.
The post read, "BREAKING: Stunning new footage shows JD Vance asserting that Donald Trump won the 2020 election. Vance might have dodged the question at the debate, but it's clear where he stands. Retweet so all Americans know Trump and Vance are a threat to democracy."
Vance Asked Again After Debate About 2020 Election
The Associated Press reported that Vance was asked again the day after the Oct. 1 debate about the 2020 election. Once again, he did not answer the question:
Vance, speaking in Michigan a day after debating Democrat vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, was asked about an exchange during Tuesday night's face off when he refused to acknowledge that Joe Biden won the presidential race four years ago.
"Well look, here's the simple reason: The media's obsessed with talking about the election of four years ago," Vance said. "I'm focused on the election of 33 days from now because I want to throw Kamala Harris out of office and get back to common-sense economic policies."
Vance then went on to speak about the need for secure elections and said he believes the 2024 election will be "the safest and most secure election."
In sum, the video recorded by The Good Liars in 2022 truly showed Vance twice falsely claiming that Trump won the 2020 election, when in fact Biden was the victor.