Social media users have mocked Republican Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance after a photo was posted to social media showing him sitting next to a newspaper reporting newly lowered inflation rates. Republican Rep. Mike Waltz shared the picture on his Twitter account, highlighting that the two men were drinking Diet Mountain Dew—a reference to Vance’s remarks in an early speech in which he noted his fondness for the soda.
The two Republicans were on a plane in the photo, taking off for a campaigning rally, and the newspaper sitting on the table between them was a copy of the Wall Street Journal, leading with the headline, “Inflation Hits Lowest Level Since 2021.” Commentators said the banner would likely prove awkward for the Republican candidates, who had just begun to attack the Biden – Harris administration for raising living costs to unacceptable levels.
Among those who responded to the Twitter post was Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Moore of Wisconsin, who wrote, “Great pic, guys! Quick question: What’s that headline say?”
The Presidential hopefuls have recently made the economy the center of their campaigns, and at a North Carolina rally, Trump promised to deliver firm economic proposals. He restated his position that Harris is a radical left-winger who would turn America into a socialist country and compared her to left-wing Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
Kamala Harris hit back the following day and announced tax-cutting, construction, and price-gouging policies. The Vice President said she would boost the Child Tax Credit to provide a $6,000 tax cut to families with newborns. She furthermore promised to enact the “first-ever federal ban on price gouging on food and groceries.”
Price gouging is the practice of increasing the cost of goods and services beyond what most observers deem reasonable. The Vice President also plans to introduce rules to prevent big companies from “unfairly exploiting consumers to run up excessive profits on food and groceries.”
Harris furthermore said she would build three million new homes and offer financial help to first-time buyers. In a move that angered Donald Trump, who claims it was originally his idea, the Vice President also pledged to introduce laws ending taxes on servers’ tips.
