Vance slams 9/11 plea deal during rally: 'Need a president who kills terrorists, not negotiates with them'

During a campaign speech Wednesday in Glendale, Arizona, Trump campaign vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance slammed the plea deal taken by three of the terrorists behind the Sept. 11 terror attacks awaiting trial in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

"Just today, I heard that the Biden-Harris Department of Justice cut a deal with al-Qaeda terrorist Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to avoid the death penalty. It was reported today," Vance said. "Now, as someone who enlisted in the Marines to serve after 9/11, that is ridiculous. But it's not surprising."

On Wednesday, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced the Convening Authority for Military Commissions, Susan Escallier, entered into pretrial agreements with Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin 'Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi.

The Ohio Republican continued and called out the Biden-Harris administration, who he said "has been a disaster for our country all over the world."

"Now, just think about the point that we've gotten to Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, have weaponized the Department of Justice to go after their political opponents, but they're cutting a sweetheart deal with 9/11 terrorists,"  Vance said. "We need a president who kills terrorists, not negotiates with them."

9/11 MASTERMIND, 2 OTHERS STRIKE PLEA DEALS WHILE AWAITING TRIAL; FAMILIES OF VICTIMS 'VERY DISAPPOINTED'

House Speaker Mike Johnson also condemned the prosecutors' decision, stating that the Biden-Harris Administration has done the "unthinkable."

"23 years ago, America watched in horror as thousands of innocent Americans died. America mourned for weeks afterwards as first responders sifted through the ashes at Ground Zero, at the Pentagon, and at the crash site in Shanksville. For more than two decades, the families of those murdered by these terrorists have waited for justice. This plea deal is a slap in the face of those families. They deserved better from the Biden-Harris Administration," Johnson wrote in a post on X.

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The terms and conditions of the plea deals were not disclosed, but the terror suspects will be spared the death penalty, three relatives of 9/11 victims were told by the Office of Military Commissions (OMC), the New York Post reported.

The defendants are accused of providing training, financial support and other assistance to the 19 terrorists who hijacked passenger jets and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 11, 2001.

The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people in the worst terror attack on U.S. soil in American history. Loved ones of the victims expressed outrage upon hearing news of the deal. 

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In September, President Biden rejected a plea deal that would have excused the 9/11 architects and co-conspirators from potentially facing the death penalty. 

They are slated to be sentenced in Guantánamo Bay on Aug. 5

Vance also gave other examples of the Biden-Harris administration weaknesses, linking Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro re-election, which he is widely believed to have fraudulently won Sunday's election, ensuring him another six-year term.

"Now, there are so many examples we could talk about, but recent news comes out of Venezuela that they cut a deal with a dictator in Venezuela, and they offered in exchange that that dictator would have free and fair elections," Vance said. "And shocker, the Kamala Harris administration doesn't know anything about free and fair elections."

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"So they're coddling dictators all over the world. We need to bring back American strength. And that means bring it back, Donald J. Trump, as president of the United States."

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment. 

Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report. 

Trump assassination attempt: Supporters pumped after GOP nominee's comeback in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pumped up spectators poured out of Harrisburg’s New Holland Arena Wednesday following a fiery Trump rally marking the former president’s first campaign event in Pennsylvania after narrowly escaping an assassin’s bullet in Butler County.

Inside, former President Donald Trump railed on Vice President Kamala Harris as "the architect of the border invasion," her history of support for far-left policies – "She wants to turn us into a Communist country" — and her tenure as a California prosecutor. 

Outside, supporters decked out in American flags and Trump slogans shared with Fox News Digital their elation after witnessing the former president following his near assassination.

"It was our first time at a Trump rally and wow," Bill and Amy said. "It's almost better than any concert I've been to! It's all love."

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"He's been my president from day one – it never stopped," Marsha Felman said. "He's the man to do the job. He's done it once, and he can do it again."

"I've been feeling pumped since 2016," another ardent supporter said.

WATCH:

One supporter highlighted the need for voters to get out and vote on November 5, saying, "We need to pray and vote."
Chuck Winton, who drove up from Maryland, said that Vice President Kamala Harris is a liar.

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"She lies a lot," he said. "Calling herself a candidate for president when she has not even been nominated."

WATCH:

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Trump filled the arena with a capacity crowd and called a moment of silence before the 7,600 in attendance in memory of Corey Comperatore, who was killed in the July 13 assassination attempt.

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