Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance's hometown state senator said at his rally Monday that if Republicans don't win the 2024 election it could lead to a civil war to "save the country."
The comments came from Ohio state Sen. George Lang, R-West Chester, right after he took the stage at Vance's first solo rally in Middletown and chanted, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"
More: JD Vance blasts Democrats for throwing Biden 'overboard' at hometown rally
"If it comes down to a civil war... we are the last stand to save it," he said at a Middletown High School auditorium, less than an hour before Vance was set to take the stage. The crowd cheered in response. Vance graduated from the high school in 2003.
Lang quickly segued into touting other Ohio-born politicians from Butler County, name-checking former speaker of the House John Boehner and Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy, and even noting former 2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who grew up in Cincinnati.
George Lang apologizes for 'civil war' comment
But it was too late. civil war? People on social media took notice.
Vance, former President Donald Trump's running mate, took the stage. He thanked several local Republicans by name, but not Lang. Meanwhile, Lang took the time to apologize for the remarks on X after the rally.
"Remarks I made earlier today at a rally in Middletown do not accurately reflect my views," Lang wrote in the statement. "I regret the divisive remarks I made in the excitement of the moment on stage. Especially in light of the assassination attempt on President Trump last week, we should all be mindful of what is said at political events, myself included."
Harris for president campaign: Trump, Vance should 'apologize'
Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign for president issued a statement calling for Trump and Vance to "apologize."
"Donald Trump and JD Vance are running a campaign openly sowing hatred and promising revenge against their political opponents," the statement said. "It’s a feature, not a bug, of their campaign and message to the American people. That’s why a Republican official was empowered to predict a civil war while introducing these candidates."
The release added: “Trump and Vance pay lip service to unity, but their actions are more focused on dividing Americans than bringing us together. It’s the polar opposite of everything Vice President Harris stands for. Donald Trump and JD Vance should denounce George Lang’s calls for violence and apologize for platforming this kind of violence.”
Vance didn't apologize, but his spokesperson Taylor Van Kirk issued a statement saying, “Senator Vance agrees with President Trump that we need to unite the country and he was glad to hear that State Senator Lang walked back those comments.”
Who is George Lang?
Lang represents Ohio's 4th state senate district, which includes Butler County.
He was elected senator in 2020. He served as a West Chester Township trustee and served two terms in the Ohio House of Representatives before he was elected to the Ohio Senate.
He is running for reelection in November after winning a three-way primary in March.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Sen. George Lang apologizes for 'divisive' civil war comment made at JD Vance rally
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