President Donald Trump is scheduled to give a televised speech on Thursday, with one expected topic being the upcoming midterm elections. Trump, who has repeatedly said the 2020 presidential election was “rigged” and that he was the real winner, is also expected to revisit those claims in his speech.
As seen below, CNN’s Manu Raju asked Vice President JD Vance, who is considered a GOP contender for the 2028 presidential nomination, if he’ll advise Trump to avoid repeating the 2020 election claim during his speech and instead focus on the midterm elections.
Vance replied, “We can do a lot. We can walk and chew gum at the same time. We are doing so many things.”
Vance mentioned passing the One Big Beautiful Bill, which he said delivered “thousands of additional dollars into the pockets of average American families.” Vance added: “We need to tell the American people all of the amazing benefits that are in those working families tax cuts.”
Asked VP Vance if he’d advise Trump in his Thursday speech to steer clear of ‘20 and instead focuses on ‘26 (as Rs hope)
Should Trump not declare himself the victor of 2020 election?
Says they can “walk and chew gum”
“We can talk about a number of the American people’s problems” pic.twitter.com/HynA2PXiSa— Manu Raju (@mkraju) July 16, 2026
Vance also said that the Republicans’ number one legislative priority is the SAVE America Act.
After Vance’s comments, Raju asked House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) whether he thinks the public wants the SAVE America Act more than affordability legislation to reduce prices. Johnson repeated Vance’s response: “We can walk and chew gum at the same time.”
Johnson added, “If you ask most Republicans around the country they’ll tell you it’s the number one thing.” He said, “Wherever I go, the first question in every crowd, without exception, is about the SAVE America Act.”
When Raju asked, “Do you think the President should not say that he won the 2020 election” in his speech on Thursday, Johnson did not answer and walked away.
Asked Speaker Johnson if he thinks the public wants Save America Act more than affordability legislation to reduce prices. (Vance had said it was their top legislative priority.)
“Clearly the Save America Act is a No. 1 priority,” he said
Also says they can “walk and chew gum” pic.twitter.com/A9rbaaPfZv
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) July 16, 2026