CNN’s Dana Bash Criticizes JD Vance After a Tense Interview
CNN host Dana Bash responded to a contentious interview with JD Vance, GOP vice-presidential candidate, on Monday. During the interview, the Ohio senator accused Bash of treating Vice President Kamala Harris too leniently, while also defending his remarks about Haitian migrants.
"There was kind of a pregnant pause when I heard him say, ‘if we have to create stories, that’s what we’ll do,’" Bash remarked on Thursday, reflecting on the exchange. "When I asked, ‘you created a story?’ he seemed to realize what he said, then moved on and criticized me again,” she continued.
The heated debate between Bash and Vance stemmed from comments made by former President Trump about Haitian migrants in Ohio during a recent debate with Harris.
“The American media completely ignored this issue until Donald Trump and I started discussing cat memes. If I have to create stories so that the American media pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’ll do, Dana, because you guys are letting Kamala Harris slide,” Vance stated.
When Bash pushed for clarification on what Vance meant, he explained, "I meant we’re making the American media focus on it."
During the discussion, Bash noted that Vance “took issue with the fact that I quoted the mayor of Springfield,” who had urged federal authorities to stop spreading inflammatory remarks about the Haitian migrants, as they could potentially endanger local residents, according to a report by Fox News.
Vance, however, responded by accusing Bash of implying that he was inciting violence, something she refuted.
Throughout the interview, Vance claimed that he was merely relaying concerns from his constituents about the behavior of Haitian migrants in Springfield, a city of about 60,000 people. He emphasized that the community was struggling to accommodate the approximately 20,000 Haitians sent by the Biden-Harris administration due to its border policies.
"Reports indicate residents have noticed an increase in crime, chaos, and traffic incidents as a result of the influx," Fox reported.
Despite Vance’s claims, Bash countered that some employers in Springfield were grateful for the migrant workers, who have helped revitalize the city’s economy, which had been struggling since the 1970s and 80s. "Now they have workers," she added.
Bash also raised concerns about legitimate questions regarding integration, schooling, and language barriers, as well as adjustments to laws, like driver's tests. However, she strongly condemned Vance’s comments about migrants eating pets, stating, "That is steeped in racist tropes, and there’s no other way to describe it."
Despite these accusations, several Springfield residents have reported incidents, as Vance pointed out, casting doubt on why Bash and her network would dismiss these claims or label such reports as “racist,” a label frequently used by left-leaning media.
In recent days, Springfield has also faced multiple bomb threats, which Bash mentioned. "You’ve spoken about the fact that there have been threats again today—colleges and schools are closed, hospitals have had bomb threats. It is dangerous; there’s no other way to describe it," she said.
However, Bash appeared to overlook or dismiss a statement from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine earlier in the week. DeWine clarified that the threats were baseless, largely originating from foreign sources, and seemingly intended to stir political unrest.
“We’ve received 33 separate bomb threats, all of which were investigated, and none were credible,” DeWine announced. “I want to be very clear—none of these were valid.”
He added, “We know people are concerned, and we’ve taken steps to address it. But I want to emphasize that these hoaxes have all been just that—hoaxes. None have been real. Unfortunately, many are coming from overseas, and some are linked to one particular country, aiming to disrupt the U.S.”