CINCINNATI — Vice President JD Vance poured some beers and handed out cheese coneys Friday after he stopped at Price Hill Chili following an event in Middletown.
Vance was in the Tri-State for the Trump administration's "America First" economic agenda Friday at the steel plant where his grandfather used to work.
The vice president campaigned for Republican candidates during his speech, and he highlighted his Rust Belt roots at the Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works facility, portraying the Democratic Party that his Papaw, James Vance, once supported as unrecognizable today.
The Middletown visit marked the first time Vance has returned to Middletown since he campaigned there shortly after he was chosen as President Donald Trump's running mate during the 2024 election.
After the Middletown event, Vance headed south back to Cincinnati, where he stopped at Price Hill Chili — a go-to restaurant for politicians to make appearances at over the last few decades.
Vance walked into the restaurant's packed Golden Fleece Lounge to applause, cheering and the shouting of "JD! JD! JD! JD!" over and over.
"What's better, Skyline or Price Hill Chili?" Vance said when he entered.
As Vance shook hands and passed out cheese coneys to guests, he joked with them about how he's been eating the beloved Cincinnati delicacy since he was 4 years old.
Vance appeared at the restaurant with Eric Conroy, a west sider and Republican who is facing incumbent Greg Landsman in Ohio's 1st Congressional District race.
"I guess I knew this but forgot it, that this district used to be very hard for Republicans to win, but we've redrawn it, and it's now one of the 10 most competitive races in the country," Vance said.
Vance also said that Landsman "is one of those guys who votes for crazy, left-wing ideas, and then comes home and pretends to be a west sider."
While in town, Vance is also expected to make a stop at his Cincinnati-area home. The City of Cincinnati announced that roads around Vance's home will be closed from Thursday afternoon until Sunday afternoon.
These roads and sidewalks along them in East Walnut Hills will be closed for the weekend:
- William Howard Taft Road between Torrence Parkway and East McMillan Street
- Collins Avenue between Riverside Drive and Taft
- Gladstone Avenue
- Taft Road Lane
- Heatherhill Lane
