Trump says Walz 'embarrassed himself' compared to Vance's 'brilliance' at VP debate

EXCLUSIVE: Former President Trump said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz "embarrassed himself" during Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate, while Sen. JD Vance's steady presentation "reconfirmed" his choice to make the senator from Ohio his running mate.

Trump spoke exclusively with Fox News Digital on Wednesday morning, hours after Vance, R-Ohio, and Walz faced off in the CBS News vice presidential debate in New York City. The two sparred on issues like foreign policy, border security, abortion and climate change, while introducing themselves and their records to the American people.

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"JD was fantastic last night — it just reconfirmed my choice," Trump told Fox News Digital. "There was a brilliance to what he did."

"On the other hand, Tim Walz proved to be a man that doesn’t have it in any way shape or form for the office that he is seeking, though I would put him a large number of steps above Kamala," Trump said.

The former president and Republican presidential nominee said Walz "embarrassed himself and the Democrat Party last night but was made to look even worse by JD’s brilliant performance."

"This is what the country needs; smart people, not people that can’t put two sentences together," Trump said. "We have to take our country back."

Vice presidential debates are traditionally seen as second-tier, but with Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris unlikely to debate again before voters cast their ballots on Nov. 5, the stakes were raised for their running mates as they attempted to tackle the most important issues facing the nation.

CBS News anchors Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan moderated the debate in New York City Tuesday night, which was