Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) on Wednesday rejected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s (D) jab at him for studying at Yale University, saying he was “proud” of what he had accomplished.
“As you know, I grew up in a very poor family. My grandmother never graduated from high school, let alone college, and I’m proud that she really worked her ass off and fought until her death to give me opportunities,” Vance said on Wednesday on Fox News. “I’m not ashamed that my grandmother made sacrifices for me so I could live the American dream.”
Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, responded to Walz’s speech Acceptance of nomination for Vice President at the Democratic Party Convention, where the governor mentioned Yale, the Ivy League university where Vance studied law.
The speech drew heavily on Walz’s small-town, Midwestern roots.
“I had 24 kids in my high school class and none of them went to Yale,” Walz said Wednesday night. “But I’ll tell you what: When you grow up in a small town like that, you learn to look out for others.”
Fox News host Martha MacCallum spoke to Vance shortly after the speech and said Walz had “basically [Vance] “Mr. Chic Ivy League Student.”
“I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, and more importantly, I’m proud of all the people who have made sacrifices to give me a better life,” Vance replied. “I would think Tim Walz would want to praise people who have made sacrifices to give their children and grandchildren a better life. I don’t mean to belittle me, but I guess that’s the political agenda. He’s going to attack me. That’s fine, but I’m proud of my family.”
Walz grew up in a diminutive town in Nebraska, joined the Army National Guard After graduating from high school, he attended Chadron State College in Nebraska to study social sciences.
Vance also speaks frequently about his own childhood in Middletown, Ohio, and his decision to join the Marines after high school.
Walz’s comments also caused a stir in other networks.
Tom Llamas of NBC News told Vance, “He made fun of you for going to Yale.”
“What a nasty personal attack,” Vance replied“Why doesn’t Governor Walz talk about Kamala Harris’ record and how she has improved the lives of Americans? The answer is because he can’t say.”
The Yale reference also came up during a CNN panel where Republican strategist Scott Jennings said the “constant attacks on JD Vance for studying at Yale” were “so weird.”
“I don’t understand it. I’ve heard Walz claim he’s a small-town guy who wants everyone to get an education and be successful, but he spends quite a bit of time attacking JD Vance, who grew up in poverty and got an education, worked hard to get an education and lived beyond his means,” Jennings said.
“And he used it as a punch line in the campaign. I don’t understand what he’s trying to say to every poor kid in the small town when he says, ‘If you choose to work hard and go to an Ivy League university, you’ve somehow let your hometown down,'” he continued.
Democratic strategist Van Jones, who also served on the panel and studied at Yale Law School, said he agreed with that point.
“As one of those small-town kids who actually went to Yale, I disagree. I think you’re right about that,” he said.
