In a heated vice-presidential debate on Tuesday night, network moderators cut the microphones of both candidates after Republican J.D. Vance objected to being fact-checked on his statements regarding Haitian migrants.

Vance, known for his staunch immigration policies, was fact-checked live on air, leading to an intense back-and-forth with the CBS moderators and his Democratic counterpart, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as the Daily Mail reports.

The debate highlighted deep divisions over immigration policy and the media's role in moderating political discourse.

The event took place against the backdrop of a contentious 2024 presidential campaign, with Springfield at the center of the debate over immigration due to prior claims by Vance and former President Donald Trump that migrants were straining local resources.

Vance took issue with a statement made by Margaret Brennan of CBS's Face the Nation, who sought to clarify that many Haitian migrants in the area held temporary protected status.

Vance Clashes with Moderators Over Fact-Checking

The tension began when Vance reiterated claims that Haitian migrants in Springfield were overwhelming local resources. He argued that the Biden administration had made it easier for migrants to obtain visas, attributing this change to Vice President Kamala Harris. Brennan immediately responded, noting that many of the migrants Vance referred to had legal status under a government program, not from any recent policy shift.

Vance quickly pushed back, protesting the network's fact-checking process. "Thank you, Margaret. The rules were that you guys weren't going to fact-check, and since you're fact-checking me, I think it's important to say what's actually going on," he said, implying that the moderators were overstepping agreed-upon debate guidelines. His frustration grew as the debate continued, prompting him to accuse Harris of allowing the migrants entry.

Moderators Struggle to Maintain Control

As the argument escalated, Vance reiterated his belief that the Biden administration, particularly Vice President Harris, was responsible for the influx of migrants. "Granted legal status at the wave of a Kamala-Harris-open-border wand," he claimed. Brennan responded by saying, "Thank you, senator, for describing the legal process."

Walz, the Democratic Party nominee for vice president, entered the fray by attempting to counter Vance, stating that the laws allowing certain migrants legal status had been in place since 1990. "Those laws have been on the book since 1990," he remarked, challenging Vance’s assertion that Harris had played a key role.

Moderators Cut Candidates’ Mics As Debate Boils Over

As Vance and Walz continued to argue, the debate took an uncomfortable turn. Both candidates spoke over each other, prompting the moderators to take drastic action. CBS's Brennan informed both candidates that their microphones had been cut, stating, "Gentlemen, the audience can't hear you because your mics are cut." The decision to mute the candidates was made in an effort to restore order and allow for a more structured discussion, but the heated exchange had already captured the audience’s attention.

Brennan attempted to steer the debate back on track, reminding both candidates that there were numerous topics to cover. "We have so much we want to get to," she added, urging them to move on from the immigration dispute.

Springfield Becomes Flashpoint In 2024 Campaign

Springfield has garnered attention in recent months as a focal point for discussions surrounding immigration. Vance and Trump have previously raised concerns about the impact of migrants on local communities, even making the claim that some were "eating pets." This debate brought those claims back into the spotlight, with Vance continuing to argue that the migrant situation was dire and that the Biden administration’s policies were exacerbating the issue.

Brennan’s clarification about the temporary protected status of many Haitian migrants was an attempt to provide context for Vance's claims, though it ultimately fueled more confrontation. Vance, who is known for his hardline stance on immigration, was unwilling to back down, framing his arguments as a necessary critique of the Biden-Harris administration's approach to border control and immigration.

Concluding Remarks

The vice-presidential debate between J.D. Vance and Gov. Tim Walz underscored the significant divide between the two parties on immigration policy.

What began as a discussion about the Haitian migrant situation quickly devolved into a broader debate about the role of the media and the fairness of live fact-checking during political events.

As CBS attempted to manage the tense exchange, the moderators' decision to cut the candidates' microphones illustrated the challenges of moderating such a polarizing topic.

While the candidates were eventually brought back to the broader debate, the incident highlighted the ongoing tension between Republican and Democratic narratives surrounding immigration, with Springfield, Ohio, serving as the latest battleground in a national conversation.

Both Vance and Walz made their positions clear, but the controversy over the role of moderators in debates is likely to persist as the 2024 election looms.