Vice President JD Vance used a campaign-style stop in Bangor, Maine, to attack social safety net programs under the guise of combating fraud, just one day after promising the administration's anti-fraud efforts would not be political or partisan. The appearance Thursday at Bangor International Airport came as early voting was already underway for Maine's June 9 primary elections, with Vance explicitly backing former Gov. Paul LePage in the politically competitive 2nd Congressional District race.
Partisan Rhetoric Contradicts Non-Political Pledge
Vance, whom President Donald Trump dubbed the "fraud czar," told the crowd, "Let's kick Janet Mills to the curb and let's send Paul LePage to Washington to help us fight the fraudsters and protect all of you." He also claimed, "You are the first victim of fraud," and later added, "My friends, this has gone on for far too long. You have been fleeced by your own government for far too long, and we are stopping it every single day."
The event came just two days after Vance said the administration's endeavor to combat fraud in government programs would not be political or partisan. He said the Maine stop was the first expressly billed as a stop to talk about fraud-fighting efforts rather than the economic-focused message he had delivered in other visits. Vance has mentioned anti-fraud efforts in stops around the country in recent weeks on behalf of Republican candidates.
Vance compared LePage to Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat who has sparred with the Trump administration over transgender athletes in high school sports. Mills is prevented by term-limit laws from running again and recently dropped out of a heated Democratic primary race for the Senate seat held by Republican Susan Collins. The seat is critical to Democratic hopes of reclaiming control of the chamber in this year's midterms.
Advocates Challenge Fraud Claims
Before Vance arrived, LePage said that if elected to represent Maine's 2nd Congressional District, he would work with the Trump administration to crack down on fraud in social safety programs, which he characterized as rampant in his state. LePage said, "The American people are done being taken for a ride. It's time for the Maine people and the Maine taxpayer to be put front and center."
Maine Center for Economic Policy, a left-leaning policy group, said in a statement that the Trump administration's characterizations of fraud and social programs in the state were inaccurate. The group said, "Fraud should always be investigated and stopped. But Mainers deserve facts, not political fearmongering designed to undermine health care for hundreds of thousands of people."
Nirav Shah, the former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention director who is running for governor, said in an email to supporters and the media that Vance was visiting Maine as the costs of necessities such as heating oil and gas surged in the state. Shah said, "That is the record JD Vance is bringing to Maine on Thursday. That is the record the Maine Republicans hosting him are 'honored' to celebrate."
Political Implications for 2026 and Beyond
Vance said, "Sometimes I get frustrated with Susan Collins. I almost wish she was more partisan. If she was as partisan as I wish she was, she would not be a good fit for the people of Maine." Collins was in Washington on Thursday and did not join the trip.
The state has supported Democratic presidential candidates in consecutive elections going back to 1992, though Trump carried Maine's 2nd Congressional District in the last three elections, capturing one of the state's four electoral votes. In the governor's race, seven Republicans, five Democrats and several independents were vying to replace Mills, and Vance noted that some of the candidates were in attendance at the rally but declined to endorse any of them when asked by a reporter.
A few dozen demonstrators stood across the street from the airport holding signs denouncing Vance and the Trump administration, and one held a giant caricature of the vice president's head that has become a popular meme. Vance's message also provided a preview of how he, seen as a likely 2028 GOP presidential candidate, could use the fraud crackdown as a central piece of his own political message in a future campaign.
Why This Matters:
The vice president's appearance in Maine reveals how rhetoric about fraud in government programs can be weaponized to undermine social safety nets that provide health care and support to hundreds of thousands of people. When advocacy groups like the Maine Center for Economic Policy challenge the accuracy of fraud characterizations, they highlight the risk that political messaging may erode public confidence in essential programs without evidence of widespread abuse. The timing—as heating oil and gas costs surge for Maine families—underscores how attacks on government assistance can distract from economic pressures facing working people. With early voting underway for the upcoming primary elections, voters face a choice between candidates who promise to expand fraud investigations in social programs and those who prioritize protecting access to health care and economic support. The partisan nature of Vance's visit, despite his pledge that anti-fraud efforts would be non-political, raises questions about whether investigations will target actual waste or serve as cover for cutting programs that vulnerable communities depend on.