Comments made by Ohio Senator JD Vance, a frontrunner to become Donald Trump's vice-presidential nominee, have ignited a firestorm after a resurfaced podcast revealed his promotion of fringe 9/11 conspiracy theories.
The remarks, made in a 2021 interview on Steve Bannon's 'War Room' podcast, have thrust Vance's past statements into the harsh spotlight of the ongoing veepstakes, potentially complicating his chances.
A Controversial Claim from the Past
In the interview, Vance did not outright affirm the conspiracy but presented it as a legitimate question, asking if the US government had made a conscious decision to allow the attacks to happen. "If the government is capable of doing that, it makes you ask the question, were they also capable of doing something like 9/11?" he stated, referring to a separate, unrelated conspiracy theory.
He further suggested that the official narrative was insufficient, saying, "I think what 9/11 shows more than anything else is that we don't have a full story... I think we should be really, really asking questions about what really happened on that day."
Swift and Widespread Condemnation
The resurfaced comments were met with immediate and forceful criticism. A spokesperson for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum labelled the suggestion "reprehensible" and a "dishonour to the memories of the 2,977 innocent people murdered that day."
Political opponents were quick to seize on the remarks, using them to question Vance's judgement and fitness for high office. The controversy threatens to overshadow his campaign efforts and could prove a significant liability for the Trump ticket.
The Veepstakes Intensifies
The revelation comes at a critical juncture, as Donald Trump is widely expected to announce his running mate imminently. Vance, a former 'Never Trumper' who reinvented himself as a MAGA stalwart, has been a top contender for the role.
His wife, Usha Vance, a prominent lawyer, has also been part of his appeal. However, this resurfaced podcast presents a new challenge for the campaign to navigate as the former president makes his final decision.
