VP J.D. Vance Visits Concord, Highlights Crime, Tax Cuts

Vice President J.D. Vance visited Concord/Charlotte on Wednesday to promote the Trump administration’s tax cuts for working families and to emphasize empowering state and local law enforcement. The trip comes as local and federal officials respond to the August light-rail stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska and amid proposals such as “Iryna’s Law” and House Bill 307 to tighten pretrial release and expedite appeals for certain violent offenders. Vance used the appearance to press a law-and-order message, urging that violent offenders be kept behind bars, praising local officers and tying the stop to the administration’s broader “One Big Beautiful Bill” policy push. The event produced a viral moment when Vance paused mid-remarks to invite a boy named Henry—who said he had skipped school—onstage for a selfie; the White House’s Rapid Response account circulated the clip. Local outlets reported limited details about the exact timing and locations of the Concord stop, and it was reported as Vance’s first official trip to North Carolina since taking office.