Psaki says 'voters' and 'American public can sniff inauthenticity' in rebuke of JD Vance

Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday that “voters” and “the American public can sniff inauthenticity” in Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (Ohio).

“I think, in politics — as we all know, we’ve all been around it a long time — voters … the American public can sniff inauthenticity,” Psaki said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “This guy is … not authentic.”

Vance has faced criticism for his performance on the campaign trail. In one notable incident, he faced blowback over a quip about Diet Mountain Dew and Democrats saying “it’s racist to do anything.”

He has also been criticized for his change in position regarding former President Trump, whom he had criticized before supporting.

“He’s not presenting himself as who he was for many decades before he had this kind of about-face … in order to try to connect with the MAGA world,” Psaki said. “People sniff that, they recognize it. Voters are not dumb, they’re smart.”

“And that’s, you know, a root problem for JD Vance, is that he is just not authentically who he presents himself to be, at all,” Psaki continued.

The Hill has reached out to a spokesperson for Vance for comment.