ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl expressed frustration that it took 90 minutes for the vice presidential candidates to discuss the Jan. 6 Capitol protests in their debate on Tuesday night, emphasizing that the issue is central to the current political landscape.
ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl has criticized the vice presidential candidates for taking 90 minutes to address the Jan. 6 Capitol protests in their debate on Tuesday night, arguing that the incident represents an extraordinary threat to American democracy.
During a discussion on "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, Karl asserted that it was "striking" that the debate had progressed so far without addressing the significance of Jan. 6. He emphasized that the event was not a normal election issue but rather a fundamental attack on the democratic process.
ABC News Anchor Raises Concerns over Late Focus on Jan. 6 in Vice Presidential Debate
"What was striking to me is that you had 90 minutes into this debate before you hit the fact that this is not a normal election, that Donald Trump tried to overturn the last election," Karl said. "And in that last answer, what you saw is JD Vance saying he wouldn’t do what Mike Pence did. He wouldn’t stand up to Donald Trump if he tried to do it again. He would help him, and he would have helped him last time overturn an American democratic election."
Karl's concerns were echoed by host George Stephanopoulos, who noted that the events of Jan. 6 were unprecedented in American history.
ABC News Anchor Raises Concerns over Late Focus on Jan. 6 in Vice Presidential Debate
"It is. It is absolutely stunning, the only time in American history it has ever happened," Stephanopoulos responded.
During the debate, Democratic candidate Tim Walz had challenged Republican candidate JD Vance on his stance regarding the 2020 election results. Walz accused former President Trump of attempting to undermine democracy by refusing to accept his loss.
ABC News Anchor Raises Concerns over Late Focus on Jan. 6 in Vice Presidential Debate
Vance evaded a direct answer, focusing instead on criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Walz characterized Vance's response as a "damning non-answer."
According to the Fox News Debate Dial, independent and Democratic voters reacted negatively to Vance's response on the 2020 election, with independents experiencing the sharpest decline in favorability.
ABC News Anchor Raises Concerns over Late Focus on Jan. 6 in Vice Presidential Debate
Despite this, many viewers and commentators have praised Vance's overall performance in the debate. New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg claimed that Vance "won the night" by focusing on issues that resonated with voters.
Karl's criticism highlights the ongoing debate over the significance of Jan. 6 and its implications for the upcoming midterm elections. The event remains a defining issue for many voters, and candidates' stances on it will likely influence the outcome of the race.
