WATCH: Vice President Vance touts ‘American comeback’ in Toledo speech

You can watch Vice President Vance’s full speech at the bottom of this story.

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - Vice President JD Vance spoke in Toledo on Thursday, calling the Trump administration’s agenda a “great American comeback” while touting economic achievements and predicting record growth ahead.

Vance addressed supporters at Midwest Terminals on Front Street on Jan. 22. The vice president highlighted what he described as the administration’s economic achievements, including raising wages, $18 billion in investment and work to put Americans in homes.

He predicted this will be the greatest economic year in American history. Vance said the administration is “investing in you, investing in Americans” and noted that some investment will show up in income tax refunds. He said the IRS told him this would be the biggest year ever for refunds.

The vice president criticized the Biden administration, saying it increased inflation and hurt paychecks.

“Under the Biden administration, you lost an average of $3,000 over that four years because inflation was out of control and wages were stagnant for our country,” Vance said. “Under the first year of the Trump administration, you’ve already gained over $1,300 in real wage gains. And my friends, we are just getting started.”

He took the opportunity to bash Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo) and “the rest of the crazy Congressional Democrats,” telling the crowd that Americans are not going back and instead seeking a more prosperous future.

“I know there are a lot of far-left Democrats, like Marcy Kaptur, who don’t like it when the government gives you back your hard-earned money, but the Trump administration believes that you earned it, you ought to keep it, and we ought to keep our hands the hell out of your pocket in Washington, Vance said.

Rep. Kaptur released the following statement to 13 Action News in response to Vance’s speech:

“The Trump Administration’s reckless tariffs and disastrous trade wars are straining the pocketbooks of workers, farmers, and consumers across our area—but I’m glad Vice President Vance took the time to visit and learn from our world-class workforce. It was great to hear that he’s now interested in lowering drug prices after voting against those efforts in the Senate. Unsurprisingly, the VP avoided discussing the 68,000 manufacturing jobs lost nationwide over the past year or the $45 Million federal investment in Libbey Glass and tens of millions in Northwest Ohio road projects canceled on his watch—investments that would keep our region competitive. Northwest Ohioans see through fancy airplanes and staged drop by visits. They know I’ll never give up on our people or our future.” -Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09).

Four Republican candidates for Ohio’s 9th Congressional seat, currently held by Rep. Kaptur, were in attendance at the vice president’s event on Thursday.

13 Action News I-TEAM reporter Shaun Hegarty had the chance to ask the vice president a question about home affordability. Watch that full exchange in the video below. Additional coverage follows.

Watch the remarks from Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Senator Jon Husted from the event before Vice President Vance’s arrival in the video below.

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