JD Vance’s spokesperson, William Martin, has sharply criticized the Associated Press for what he describes as a misleading portrayal of Vance’s recent comments on school shootings.
Martin’s statement, provided exclusively to Fox News Digital, accuses the AP of “brazenly lying” about the Republican vice presidential candidate’s position on the issue.
The controversy erupted after the AP published a headline suggesting that Vance had dismissed school shootings as a “fact of life” in a callous manner. The original headline, “JD Vance says school shootings are a ‘fact of life,’ calls for better security,” was criticized for implying that Vance was indifferent to the severity of such incidents.
In response to the backlash, the AP updated the headline to reflect Vance’s actual sentiment more accurately. The revised headline reads, “JD Vance says he laments that school shootings are a ‘fact of life’ and calls for better security,” and the associated X post was also deleted and corrected to provide better context.
Vance had made his remarks during a rally in Phoenix, discussing the recent school shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia.
“I don’t like that this is a fact of life,” said Vance.
He emphasized the need for enhanced security measures to protect schools from potential attackers. Vance’s comments included a critique of strict gun laws, which he argued would not necessarily prevent such tragedies.
Martin’s statement underscores a broader frustration within Vance’s camp regarding media coverage. He accused the AP of losing credibility and suggested that the organization’s actions reflect a bias against Republican politicians. The spokesperson also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for her stance on gun control and school security, contrasting it with Vance’s call for increased safety measures in schools.
The controversy has sparked significant debate, with critics accusing Vance of insensitivity and defenders arguing that the media misrepresented his position. The Harris-Walz campaign responded by condemning Vance’s remarks and highlighting Vice President Harris’s efforts to address gun violence and school safety.
FOX News, Newsweek, and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
