JD Vance Endorses Trump's Fed Idea, Bats for More Involvement of Politicians in US Monetary Policy

Atlanta: Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance used a round of Sunday news show appearances to disparage the Democratic ticket and promote Donald Trump's record and second-term plans and defend himself from criticism over past remarks that have become a campaign issue.

The Ohio senator, in a series of taped interviews, said there was merit to Trump’s suggestion that presidents have more control of U.S. monetary policy and kept up the GOP line that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democrats' vice presidential candidate, had exaggerated his military record.

Vance, who shadowed Vice President Kamala Harris and Walz during their visits to several battleground states last week, was quizzed about abortion and his past comments about American family life, among other topics.

Some highlights from his appearances:

Trump is right on Fed independence, Vance says

Trump recently suggested that presidents “should have at least a say” on monetary policy set by the Federal Reserve. He did not offer specific proposals.Curtailing the Fed’s independence from political interference as it determines interest rates would be a fundamental change. Even as he tried to argue that Trump said nothing about taking “direct” control of rates, Vance endorsed Trump's general idea.“

President Trump is saying I think something that’s really important and actually profound, which is that the political leadership of this country should have more say over the monetary policy of this country,” Vance said. 

“I agree with him. That should fundamentally be a political decision. Agree or disagree, we should have America’s elected leaders having input about the most important decisions confronting our country.”

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan questioned the wisdom of such a major change. “I think if you look around the world’s economies and you see where Fed central banks are independent and operate freely,” he said, “they tend to fare better than the ones that don’t.”

Medical Abortion and Florida's Referendum

Vance dodged when asked about his position on an upcoming Florida referendum that would repeal Republican-passed abortion restrictions and ensure more access to abortion services. Speaking broadly about states and reproductive rights, Vance said Trump "has said explicitly they’re going to make this decision on a state-by-state level.”

Vance struggled to clarify Trump’s position on whether he would support federal limits on the medical abortion drug mifepristone.Trump said in his June debate with Biden that he would not block it. At his Florida news conference last week, he offered a disjointed answer and said, "You also have to give a vote” on the matter. 

Vance suggested that “maybe” Trump had difficulty hearing and understanding a reporter’s question.

Walz responded in a statement through the Harris campaign that Trump and Vance "are going to ban medication abortion… Vice President Harris and I will make sure that you make your health care decisions because we have a rule, whether you’d make the same decision as someone else: Just mind your own damn business.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.)