On Thursday, Vice President JD Vance gave remarks at the Bangor International Airport in Bangor, Maine, as part of his role as Fraud Czar, leading the Anti-Fraud Task Force. Vance shined the spotlight on how the Trump administration is addressing reported fraud in the state, which includes $46 million in improper Medicaid payments for autism services.
Vance was joined by Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling, and former ME Gov. Paul LaPage, who is running for U.S. Congress in the 2nd District, which encompasses Bangor.
In his opening statement, Vance affirmed why the Trump administration is so intent on rooting out fraud statewide.
Vance said:
I’m fighting to preserve the sense that Americans look after Americans. But you know who we don’t look after? We don’t look after fraudsters and we don’t look after people who have no right to be in the United States of America to begin with.
Vance thanked the elected officials who joined him on the platform, and then acknowledged ME Sen. Susan Collins (R) who was unable to attend.
Vance began:
My friend and former Senate colleague Susan Collins was not able to be here. Susan is back in D.C., she doesn’t like to miss votes.
That’s refreshing, seeing as we have members of the House of Representatives and the Senate who have no issue with consistently missing votes and some who have been MIA for months on end. Democrat Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-24) and Republican Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) are two that come to mind.
Dive Deeper: Where in the World Is Frederica Wilson? 83-Year-Old Dem Is MIA
Tom Kean Speaks: MIA NJ Rep. Finally Addresses His Nearly Two-Month Absence From Congress
According to her spokesperson, Collins is proud and protective of her voting record.
“She has never missed a vote during her entire Senate service and is nearing her 10,000th roll call vote,” he said.
Bravo to Collins for doing her job and being a consistent presence for her constituents. Vance had more to say about Collins, and praised her for reflecting the independence of her state.
Here’s the thing I’ll say about Susan Collins is, sometimes I get frustrated with Susan Collins. I almost wish that she was more partisan. But the thing I love about Susan is that she is independent because Maine is an independent state. And frankly, if she was as partisan as I sometimes wish that she was, she would not be a good fit for the people of Maine. So, let’s give a shoutout to Susan Collins who is doing a great job.
WATCH:
🚨 WOW! VP JD Vance just gave glowing PRAISE to Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who must now face off against socialist Graham Platner (D) this November
He’s right. We MUST hold this seat.
“Susan Collins — sometimes I get frustrated…I almost wish she was more partisan. BUT, the… pic.twitter.com/9U9wo6VH8N
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 14, 2026
Democrats have long targeted Collins, who is looking to be elected for a sixth term in the Senate. They believe they can ride the anti-Trump and anti-Republican sentiment in the state toward accomplishing this, backing oyster farmer and Marine veteran Graham Platner as their candidate.
Despite Platner’s brandishing of a Nazi tattoo on his chest (which he has since covered up), and the recently revealed online records of him making sexist, racist, and antisemitic comments on Reddit, the same Democrats who have spent the past eight years painting President Donald Trump as a Nazi and Hitler are bending over backwards to excuse Platner’s tattoo and antisocial behavior, while pouring the contents of their war chest and endorsements into his campaign.
Democratic candidate in Maine running for the U.S. Senate, Graham Platner, says tattoo recognized as N* zi symbol has been covered.
Sooo… the party that calls MAGA and President Trump N* zis… are about to elect a guy who has an actual N* zi tattoo. Oh …but it’s… pic.twitter.com/mEfS8MHoo6
— 🎹 Ames™ 🎹 (@Real_Ames) May 4, 2026
Democratic candidate in Maine running for the U.S. Senate, Graham Platner, says tattoo recognized as N* zi symbol has been covered.
Sooo… the party that calls MAGA and President Trump N* zis… are about to elect a guy who has an actual N* zi tattoo. Oh …but it’s okay …. he had it covered up (when MAGA realized the double standard). 🙄 👍🏻 👌🏻
Read More: Dems Hitch Wagons to Graham Platner, but Impending Revelations May Have the Wheels Falling Off
Our ‘Modern-Day’ Media – Forgive an Avowed Nazi, Fire the Republican for Words Spoken by Others
This is our shocked face.
The 73-year-old is on a collision course with Graham Platner, the 41-year-old presumptive Democratic nominee, who has never cast a vote in any legislative chamber.
Mr. Platner’s lack of governing experience factored into Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer’s decision to recruit Democratic Gov. Janet Mills to run for the seat.
But with Mr. Platner, a former Marine and oyster farmer, energizing activists and commanding most of the attention, Ms. Mills’ campaign never caught fire. She recently dropped out of the race, clearing the way for the November showdown that will test how much weight voters give to legislative experience and, in Ms. Collins’ case, records.
Actually, it will be a test between honesty and hypocrisy. Love or hate Susan Collins, as her record has shown, and as Vance affirmed, she has remained true to her independence, true to her constituents, and true to herself.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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