‘You’re Agents Of A Radical Fringe’ [WATCH]

Vice President J.D. Vance sharply criticized the media during an exchange with a reporter over coverage of a fatal incident involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, accusing reporters of misrepresenting an act of violence as a legitimate protest and promoting what he described as propaganda that undermines law enforcement.

The exchange occurred as reporters questioned Vance about the death of a woman who attempted to ram an ICE officer with her vehicle and was subsequently shot.

One reporter framed the question around whether the woman’s alleged associations justified the use of lethal force.

“How does being part of that network justify being shot?” the reporter asked.

Vance rejected the premise of the question, stating that the shooting was the result of self-defense after a violent act, not the woman’s affiliations.

“Well, being part of the network doesn’t justify being shot, but ramming an ICE officer with your car, that’s what justifies being shot,” Vance said.

“It’s not a good thing, by the way, but when you force somebody to engage in self defense, it’s almost a preposterous question.”

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Vance emphasized that he was not arguing for capital punishment based on ideology or political activity, but said the immediate cause of the woman’s death was her action against a law enforcement officer.

“I’m not saying that funding some of this stuff justifies capital punishment,” he said.

“Nobody would suggest that the reason this woman is dead is because she tried to ram somebody with her car, and that guy acted in self defense. That is why she lost her life, and that is the tragedy.”

He noted that additional legal consequences could apply depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigation, particularly if other violations of the law are uncovered.

“Now, there may be other violations of the law and other penalties that that are associated with those violations of the law,” Vance said.

“For example, if you are funding violence against our law enforcement officers, I’m not a prosecutor, my guess is that’s not the sort of thing that earns capital punishment, but it should sure as hell earn you a few years in prison if you’re funding the effort to try to assault our law enforcement officers.”

Vance then turned his criticism directly toward the media, accusing reporters of abandoning factual reporting in favor of narratives advanced by what he described as a radical fringe.

“What is I’m sorry guys, what’s going on here?” Vance said.

“You guys are meant to report the truth. How have you let yourself become agents of propaganda of a radical fringe that’s making it harder for us to enforce our laws?”

He said the reporter’s question falsely assumed the woman was engaged in a lawful protest rather than a violent act.

“You just asked me a question that presumed that the reason why this woman died is because she was engaged in legitimate protest,” Vance said.

“She tried to run somebody over with her car, and the guy defended himself when that happened.”

Vance concluded the exchange by declining to answer further questions, citing the ongoing investigation.

“Next question, the investigation is still ongoing,” he said.

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