Sen. J.D. Vance "terrified" a Georgia bakery worker from whom he demanded doughnuts last week, Donald Trump's beleaguered running mate admits in a new report.
Vance (R-OH) told NBC News reporters Tuesday night that he regretted his viral video-taped visit to a Valdosta doughnut shop last week.
“We walked in, and there’s 20 Secret Service agents, and there’s 15 cameras, and she clearly had not been properly warned," Vance said. "She was terrified."
Vance's awkward campaign stop has spurred much mockery — from comedians such as Patton Oswalt and Trae Crowder — after he appeared to have difficulty making small talk with the woman, who said she didn't want to be filmed, and ordering doughnuts.
"Whatever makes sense," Vance said when selecting his pastries.
"How long has this place been around?" Vance asked. "About four years? Okay."
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Vance on Tuesday took a jab at Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) for orchestrating "scripted events" such as their quest for Harris' favorite snack food in a Pennsylvania gas station earlier this month.
“I don’t want to go and do three takes of buying Doritos at a Sheetz,” Vance said. “I like to get out there and talk to people."
Vance pledged next time he'll send his team in to make sure workers are comfortable appearing on camera with him, arguing that his campaign's misstep was that they failed to first warn the Georgia bakery workers they were coming.
"We want to make sure we’re doing it, but definitely make sure that people are at least OK with being on camera," Vance said, "or we’re going to walk in and you’re going to have a person who has, practically, a panic attack because she’s got 15 cameras in her face.”
