Vance roasts NYT in response to reporter, wouldn't say it's a 'respectable paper'

Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, on Tuesday hit the New York Times with a pointed quip after a reporter pressed him on his style and presentation of issues at a rally in Eau Claire, Wis.

The reporter began by addressing Vance's discussion of Haitian illegal immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, reportedly eating local pets and wildlife. He then asked about Vance's style, saying it was "something new that we're seeing on the campaign trail." He then suggested Vance had said he was willing to make a larger point "regardless" of the facts, which Vance disputed.

"What's something you're willing not to say in order to make a point that is important to you?" the New York Times reporter asked, prompting boos from the crowd.

"What I wouldn't say is that the New York Times is a respectable paper. That's one thing I wouldn't be willing to say," he quipped.

"All kidding aside, if one person had called me and said I'm seeing this Springfield, we'd maybe let that pass," he responded. "When four, five, six, seven people are telling me they see something in Springfield and on top of it that there are certain people who refuse to listen to them, who refuse to take their concerns seriously, that's when it's my job as a United States senator to listen to my constituents."

"My standard for whether I talk about something is whether enough people that I trust bring it to me at least to the point where I feel like I've got to investigate it myself, not just trust the media to do their jobs, because a lot of the time, they don't," he continued.