Vance Tries to Downplay Trump's Outlandish Remarks During Vice Presidential Debate: Understanding 'Sanewashing'

Coined in 2020, “sanewashing” has recently become a hot term among media critics who believe that coverage of some of Donald Trump's speeches ignores his more outlandish statements.

The term came into the spotlight again last month after the former president gave a particularly incoherent response at the Economic Club of New York. After a member asked Trump a very specific question about the rising cost of child care, the Republican presidential nominee responded with a two-minute rant about tariffs, the deficit and fraud.

But the New York Times chose to treat Trump's comments this way, headlined its article about the event “Trump Calls for Efficiency Commission, Idea Pushed by Elon Musk.” The Times' conscious decision to begin with this detail and only briefly mention the former president's incoherence in the article drew sharp criticism from media pundits.

On Tuesday, Vance took the same “sanitary wash” approach at the debate in New York. For example, when the moderators pressed Trump for calling climate change a “hoax,” Vance deflected. Instead of answering “yes” or “no,” Vance tried to “interpret” for Trump.

The fact is that Trump said rising sea levels meant “a little more beachfront property” and that the noise from wind power “causes cancer.” Vance can't wash away these comments.