JD Vance trolls Kamala Harris with one of her favorite lines

Ohio Senator JD Vance opened a town hall in North Carolina with a parody of one of Vice President Kamala Harris' frequent statements in public speeches.

“I grew up in a working-class family,” the Republican vice presidential candidate began, pausing with a grin before quickly adding, “I’m just kidding,” drawing laughter and applause from the crowd at High Point University.

Speaking at the Turning Point Action event hosted by conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, Vance addressed Harris' allusions to her middle-class background, which she often uses to connect with American voters.

“Kamala Harris often says, 'Did you know I grew up in a middle-class family?'” Vance said. “What the hell does this have to do with lowering inflation?”

Vance compared his working-class background to that of the Democratic presidential candidate, suggesting that his roots make him better attuned to the economic challenges of everyday America.

During the town hall meeting, Vance repeated his usual criticism of the Biden administration's policies, particularly on economic and manufacturing issues. He argued that Harris and President Joe Biden have failed to create a favorable climate for domestic manufacturing.

“The American tax code is designed to reward investment abroad and punish investment in the United States,” Vance argued, pointing to offshoring as a key factor in stagnant wages over the past four decades. “The only exception was when Donald Trump was president, from 2017 to 2020.”

Throughout the event, Vance used Harris' wording to highlight their different approaches to U.S. economic policy, particularly on tariffs, which he said could encourage companies to invest in American workers rather than turning to cheaper foreign workers leave.

“If they try to bring something made by Chinese slave labor into our country, we say they have to pay a penalty,” he said, suggesting that tariffs protect U.S. jobs and promote fair wages for American workers would.

Vance also addressed specific Trump-era immigration policies that he said have been rolled back by the Biden administration, including halted deportations and the suspension of construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, which he said is exacerbating immigration problems .

“If you know you can enter without being deported, you will continue to enter illegally,” Vance said.

Additionally, Vance criticized the Biden administration's “catch and release” policy, saying that asylum seekers would be allowed to “move freely in the United States for 15 years” rather than having to remain in Mexico while their cases were processed – a policy that Vance reiterated is crucial to effectively managing immigration.

Vance has been traveling the country campaigning for his running mate, aiming to appeal to undecided voters even though more than 50 million Americans have already cast their ballots.

On Thursday Vance appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience— arguably the most influential platform among young American men, a key demographic that the Trump campaign has worked to engage.