All posts tagged "jd vance"

JD Vance's anti-war leaks backfire as Trump makes VP scapegoat for Iran fiasco: analysis

President Donald Trump has weaponized Vice President JD Vance to absorb blame over failed negotiations with Iran, an analyst reported on Monday.

Salon's Amanda Marcotte described how Trump has forced Vance into a situation he didn't want to be in and by doing so, has put his political future in question.

"The vice president didn’t even want to be there, a feeling he has apparently made clear through anonymous leaks from either himself or his associates to journalists, which haver [SIC] resulted in flattering stories alleging that the vice president tried to talk Trump out of launching a war on Iran," Marcotte wrote. "These accounts are likely true enough, but not because Vance has some noble objection to needless killing. At 41, the vice president has enough wits about him to see what was very obvious, something the [SIC] Trump has refused to see: that this war would be a political debacle for the administration — and for Vance’s future plans to run for president."

Although Vance publicly claims support for the war, his private efforts tell a different story, according to Marcotte.

"Vance’s efforts to discreetly paint himself as opposed to the war, though, are backfiring," Marcotte wrote. "The more the Iran war drags on, the more the vice president finds himself getting sucked into the quagmire at the risk of becoming as much the face of the fiasco as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or even Trump himself."

But Vance will continue to face this predicament.

"Perhaps the dam will break, but right now, it seems like the vice president could be stuck for a long time in the hellhole of trying to negotiate the end of a war he didn’t want with very few cards to play, and a boss who won’t admit that they have been defeated," Marcotte added. "All of which means that, while Trump hits the links at Mar-a-Lago or rests behind his desk while answering reporters’ questions in the Oval Office, it will be Vance whose face is out front on coverage of the war. It will be Vance striding toward planes in photographs and Vance standing behind podiums to explain why negotiations aren’t working."

JD Vance 'sold his soul' – and voters are abandoning him for Trump favorite: analyst

Vice President JD Vance's support for a presidential campaign is slipping rapidly, according to a political analyst.

Vance has attempted to consolidate his possible presidential push with a series of appearances at Turning Point USA rallies. But the Vice President is seemingly losing support, and potential voters are abandoning Vance in favor of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Vance faces a significant erosion of support within MAGA circles as Secretary of State Marco Rubio gains prominence as a potential 2028 presidential successor. Trump voters surveyed in focus groups express a preference for Rubio over Vance, viewing him as the "adult in the room" compared to other cabinet members.

Rubio's multiple government roles—secretary of state, national security adviser, acting USAID administrator, and acting archivist—have created an image of competence and influence. By contrast, Vance's standing has deteriorated sharply. MS NOW analyst Zeeshan Aleem believes voter sentiment is shifting from Vance to Rubio.

Aleem wrote, "It might be that he is more closely identified with Trump and hardcore MAGA ideology, and so Trump’s plunging ratings weigh more on Vance than other administration officials.

"Or, somewhat paradoxically, it might be — as many of Longwell’s quoted focus group participants suggest — that Vance comes across as less sincere rhetorically and seems to have “sold his soul” for proximity to power.

"Sometimes these things boil down to vibe. Even though both Rubio and Vance, like most of their GOP colleagues, have shifted many of their political views during the Trump era, Vance can come across as more try-hard than Rubio, perhaps because of the theatrical zeal with which he speaks, or because the very premise of his relatively short career in national politics was rejecting Trumpism."

Vance previously found himself ditched by MAGA voters, with The Atlantic analyst Sarah Longwell noting the changing tide for Rubio, who appeared to be benefiting from his vast number of titles.

Longwell wrote, "Rubio currently serves as secretary of state and national security adviser, and until recently he served as acting USAID administrator and acting archivist of the United States. Voters see the memes tweaking Rubio for having such a laughable number of important titles and think he must be doing something right."

‘I think it says something’: Analyst reveals what Vance’s absence in Iran talks could mean

President Donald Trump has sent envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad, Pakistan, this weekend for continued negotiations with Iran — but Vice President JD Vance did not plan to attend — something a CNN analyst said was telling in a report on Friday.

Vance, who previously attended marathon talks with the Iranians earlier this month, will be on standby and available to join by phone or travel if need be, CNN reported. Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's Speaker of the Parliament, who the White House views as Vance's counterpart and head of the Iranian delegation, will not attend either.

The timeline for the ongoing war has remained uncertain, with Trump telling reporters on Thursday "Don't rush me."

CNN special correspondent Jamie Gangel signaled that the Iran strategy has appeared to shift within the White House.

"Let's be hopeful. Let's be optimistic. It's moving in in the right direction," Gangel said.

"I think everyone would like this war to end," she added. "But we've seen a roller coaster here. And in when dealing with the Iranians, I've been told over and over by intelligence experts, they're really good at talking. And they will talk and talk until the cows come home. But getting to substantive negotiations is a whole other matter. So let's see where this goes. I do think it's interesting that Vice President Vance is not going. I think it says something about where we think this is at the moment."

Members of Vance's team were reportedly already in Pakistan for the talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Iranians have not yet confirmed if they will meet with the American delegation.

'Blatant dishonesty': Turning Point USA chapter president quits over group's direction

The University of Georgia student who was president of the school's Turning Point USA chapter has resigned after a small crowd gathered for Vice President JD Vance — and as CEO Erika Kirk suddenly canceled her appearance, according to The Daily Beast on Thursday.

Caroline Mattox shared a statement saying that joining TPUSA was a "dream" and described how that changed after founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a Utah college campus event, claiming it was "abundantly clear" that the right-wing group's "mission and purpose have been lost along the way."

“It became evident to me that the organization’s current direction no longer aligns with the principles upon which it was founded. I witnessed firsthand what I believe to be the organization’s true direction following Charlie’s passing, and I have significant concerns about its messaging and current trajectory,” Mattox wrote.

Vance's visit filled only about a quarter of the campus venue earlier this month. Erika Kirk was a no-show after citing security concerns.

TPUSA’s Andrew Kolvet, who now hosts Charlie's podcast after the founder was killed, has blamed left-wing protesters for reserving tickets, causing the low turnout.

Mattox shared her thoughts on those claims, apparently disagreeing.

"Charlie spent his life fighting for truth, and I do not believe he would stand for the blatant dishonesty now being spread by the organization that he built," she wrote.

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Jeering memes backfire as MAGA finds new darling: GOP expert

MAGA has found a new darling in a Donald Trump cabinet member as Vice President JD Vance looks to be sidelined, an expert has claimed.

Trump voting members of the public backed Marco Rubio, who seems to be gaining importance in MAGA circles for his multiple roles in government. The Atlantic analyst Sarah Longwell noted the changing tide for Rubio, who appeared to be benefiting from his vast number of titles.

"Another reason voters seem to like Rubio: They see him as the 'adult in the room.' This is understandable. Looking smart and sober is relatively easy when you’re surrounded by the likes of Pete Hegseth, Kash Patel, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Even Trump himself—with his garbled speech and incoherent ramblings—makes his underlings seem more credible by comparison. All of that accrues to Rubio’s benefit."

Trump voters who spoke at a focus group overseen by Longwell suggested that Rubio is seen as a more preferred lead candidate for the Republican Party at the 2028 election than Vance.

Steve from Florida said, “Marco Rubio, my former senator, is doing great as secretary of state. He will be a great president too.” Dave, a two-time Trump voter from West Virginia, added, "He’s wearing multiple hats right now. I think he’s doing a good job in his role. I think he speaks well.

"I’d prefer to see him continue to stay in one of these State Department roles. Or if Trump makes him the new ayatollah or something, maybe he can do that as well."

Those who once thought highly of Vance now believe their support must lie with other candidates. Adam, a two-time Trump voter from California, noted, "I think the well is poisoned. I think that he [Vance] sold his soul in a way, and he’s adopting the divisive, dismissive stance that his boss does, to curry favor, secure his position. So unfortunately, he revealed a part of himself that there’s no returning from."

Sam from Minnesota, a Gen Z Trump 2024 voter, added, "I just don’t like Vance a lot. I think he has flip-flopped on issues. If you look at what he was about in 2018, 2019, or 2020, and you look at what he’s about now, it’s very, very different. I'd love to see Marco Rubio [run in 2028]."

MAGA's 'self-appointed crusade' in Europe falls flat as Vance left reeling: analysis

MAGA supporters were dealt a devastating blow earlier this week and will struggle to recover from it, a political analyst has claimed.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a far-right autocrat who has led the country for 16 years, conceded defeat in April 2026 to opposition leader Peter Magyar, marking a stunning rebuke to Trump-backed authoritarianism in Europe. Endorsement from Vice President JD Vance was not enough to win Orban the election, marking an embarrassing moment for Donald Trump's administration and the MAGA movement.

Salon columnist Andrew O'Hehir believes Orban's election loss will set the MAGA movement back, but not stop them from attempting to pool their resources in Europe. He wrote, "It wasn't a great week for the far right’s self-appointed crusade to reconquer Europe as a fairytale paradise of whiteness and Christianity.

"Maybe that’s because that whole idea is vaporware, rooted in a nonsensical social and historical vision and devoted to a losing battle against economic and demographic reality. But that quality of noble, doomed struggle toward impossible goals is both the far-right movement’s fundamental weakness and the source of its power and danger."

O'Hehir went on to suggest that MAGA's backing of Orban and the subsequent election loss highlighted an undermining of Trump's own support during his second term in the Oval Office.

He wrote, "Viktor Orbán, the pudgy poster boy for 'illiberal democracy' and object of a mysterious man-crush by legions of American conservatives, suffered a catastrophic electoral defeat in Hungary that felt, at least for a day or two, like the global MAGA movement’s Waterloo moment.

"As for Donald Trump, what is there to say? The entire world is over him, big time, and it’s the unique curse of America’s narcissistic self-regard that we’re still stuck with him, dominating the headlines day after day with his empty, contradictory and randomly-punctuated blather.

"Trump heads into the latter stages of his presidency as a damaged and toxic figure, a human AI-meme desperately trying to spin his way past the massive humiliation of the Iran war he chose to fight and the global energy crisis he single-handedly created.

"As for the ambitious schemes to reshape Europe’s political map variously proposed by JD Vance, Stephen Miller, Steve Bannon and Elon Musk, among others, to this point none have amounted to more than flatulent rhetoric."

Trump admin dealing 'incalculable damage' to GOP with religious statements: analyst

Religious statements made by members of Donald Trump's administration are harming the Republican Party, a political analyst has warned.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a Pentagon prayer service featuring a fabricated Bible verse directly from Quentin Tarantino's 1994 film Pulp Fiction. Hegseth introduced the prayer as CSAR 2517, which is actually Ezekiel 25:17—the fictional passage recited by Samuel L. Jackson's character Jules Winnfield.

The prayer included Hegseth's modifications, replacing movie dialogue with military references. The incident sparked widespread ridicule from legal experts and lawmakers, with critics questioning Hegseth's fitness to lead the military while weaponizing Christianity to justify warfare.

Vice President JD Vance also sparked controversy by publicly lecturing Pope Leo XIV on theology during a Turning Point conference. Vance stated the pope must be "careful" when discussing theological matters and ensure statements are "anchored in the truth." Pope Leo XIV directly rebuked Vance, declaring, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others."

The confrontation highlighted tensions between Vance's Christian nationalist ideology and papal teachings emphasizing universal compassion over national interest prioritization.

David Wippman and Glenn C. Altschuler, writing in The Hill, suggest these moments from Hegseth and Vance highlight a dangerous precedent set by Trump's team.

They wrote, "The Trump administration’s threats to attack Iran’s energy infrastructure and destroy its civilization in the name of Jesus have prompted sharp rebukes from religious leaders, including Pope Leo, who quoted the Prophet Isaiah as saying God 'does not listen' to leaders with 'hands full of blood.'

"Trump’s profanity and endorsements of a Christian crusade are doing incalculable damage. In a nation in which only 62 percent of citizens identify as Christians, the president’s justification for his war of choice is eroding trust, intensifying political polarization, and contributing to an environment in which almost half of Americans think members of the other party are 'downright evil.'

"As Trump divides Americans while claiming God anointed him to lead the country, his rhetoric and his actions make clear that America and its leaders are no longer what they once were — the linchpin of an international order resting on shared values, laws and respect for national sovereignty."

Trump rocked by Iran collapse as pressure mounts to overhaul team: analysis

President Donald Trump has been urged to change tactics in how he is dealing with Iranian officials looking to end the war.

The Trump administration's attempts to broker peace with Iran have ended in complete failure, with Vice President JD Vance announcing the collapse of negotiations on April 12, 2026.

Political analyst Sabrina Haake suggested the administration must look to more qualified personnel when brokering peace with the Middle Eastern country. Writing in her Substack, Haake suggested drafting new experts and negotiators to speak with Iran.

She wrote, "To resolve the highly complex quagmire he created, Trump needs negotiators steeped in Iran’s history, geography, culture, and technological capacities.

"But he’s relying on loyalists: VP Vance, real estate developer Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, all of whom lack the expertise and diplomatic experience needed to achieve an agreement. Two diplomats from the failed negotiations immediately identified Trump’s problem: choosing negotiators for personal loyalty instead of subject-matter expertise."

Foreign policy expert Karim Sadjadpour suggested Trump had thrown Vice President JD Vance under the bus with failed peace talks between the US and Iran.

He wrote, "When toppling the Iranian regime appeared within reach to him, Trump wanted the credit; now, sensing the war’s unpopularity, he is content to let Vance own the outcome."

Trump has also prematurely declared victory over Iran, which the Preparedness and Politics Substack has suggested will make it harder to actually broker peace. They wrote, "For shipping markets and insurance underwriters, the political contradiction is itself risk.

"When the US president publicly declares victory while ten thousand US personnel actively enforce a blockade that the other party calls illegal and threatens to retaliate against, the contradiction is a reason to keep rates high.

"If Iran reneges on the opening — as the April 7-8 pattern suggests is entirely possible — lifting the blockade in response becomes harder, not easier, because Trump has already claimed the situation is resolved."

'Crude opportunist' Vance will turn on Trump to save presidential bid: analyst

Vice President JD Vance could be building up the nerve to turn on Donald Trump and save his 2028 presidential bid, a political analyst has claimed.

Vance has found himself crumbling in the polling, according to The Guardian's Simon Tisdall, who notes that the vice president has been backing Trump. But doing so has been a detriment to his own projections of being the next President of the United States, Tisdall claims, and Vance may soon hit his breaking point.

Tisdall wrote, "The vice-president is paying a high price for sycophantic loyalty to his boss. His poll ratings are plunging. His MAGA succession hopes falter. He suffers by association – although his own inflammatory statements and misjudgments often make matters worse. Yet amid growing doubts about Trump’s mental health and fitness to govern, Vance remains the White House’s next-in-line.

"Vance’s loyalty is not reciprocated. Remember the fate of Trump’s first vice-president, Mike Pence, who refused to block the 2020 election result. Trump reportedly backed Capitol Hill rioters who wanted Pence hanged for treason.

"If the mood takes him, Trump will happily throw faithful followers under the bus, no matter how they bow and scrape. Ask Pam Bondi. Yet Vance’s loyalties and beliefs are flexible, too."

Tisdall went on to suggest it is not a matter of if Vance betrays Trump to secure his spot as the Republican Party nominee for the 2028 elections, but when.

"In short, Vance is a crude opportunist, a self-proclaimed hillbilly peddling political moonshine," he wrote. "But his position is stronger than other cabinet members in one key respect. Trump cannot fire an elected vice-president – though under the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, Vance could help fire Trump.

"A group of Democrats in Congress wants him to join a special commission that would do exactly that if Trump were judged unfit. Vance will bide his time.

"But Trump’s Iran fiasco and increasingly unhinged behavior is eroding grassroots support – and that hurts his deputy, too. Vance’s lead over the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, in the notional contest for the Republican nomination is slipping."

Vance is not guaranteed any success if he does break from Trump, with Tisdall arguing it would take a "miracle" to rehabilitate the Vice President in the eyes of the voters.

He wrote, "If, between now and November 2028, he can learn statesmanship, practice humility and moderation, and heed what Abraham Lincoln called the 'better angels of our nature,' he may yet find redemption. At 41, Vance still has time to reinvent himself again."

'The damage is done': JD Vance ridiculed for walking back 'nasty' Pope Leo statements

Vice President JD Vance has been ridiculed by leading theological experts and philosophers for a recent statement made about Pope Leo XIV.

Vance has engaged in a direct theological dispute with Pope Leo XIV, criticizing the pontiff's understanding of Catholic doctrine. At a Turning Point conference, Vance stated, "I think it's very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology."

"If you're going to opine on matters of theology, you've got to be careful, you've got to make sure it's anchored in the truth." The Pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, responded by directly rebuking Vance's ideology. "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others."

Vance also suggested the Vatican focus on morality rather than foreign policy, claiming the pope should "stick to matters of morality and the matters of the Catholic church."

Pope Leo XIV has since downplayed the feud with President Donald Trump and his administration, saying that the feud had "not been accurate in all of its respects" and that he has "no interest at all" in debating the president.

Vance issued another statement on Pope Leo XIV, posting to X on Saturday: "I am grateful to Pope Leo for saying this. While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict–and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen–the reality is often much more complicated.

"Pope Leo preaches the gospel, as he should, and that will inevitably mean he offers his opinions on the moral issues of the day. The President–and the entire administration–work to apply those moral principles in a messy world. He will be in our prayers, and I hope that we'll be in his."

This statement has been heavily criticized, with journalist Pedro L. Gonzalez writing, "JD Vance knows he messed up. He was supposed to pretend to be a Catholic, do the whole pious statesman charade ahead of 2028, but he underestimated how unpopular he is, so attacking the Pope was like putting his hand in a hornet’s nest.

"Now he wants to save face, but the damage is done. I guess JD will just have to change his name again and write a third memoir when this is over."

Catholic Clergy member Father James Anyaegbu added, "To pray for the Pope is a good step, but to listen to him is even better and commendable. Because authentic prayer should open us to obedience, not just sympathy.

"It should move us to take seriously the voice of the one entrusted with guarding and proclaiming the truth of the Gospel. We cannot affirm the Pope when it is convenient and reduce his teaching to 'opinion' when it challenges us. The Gospel is not negotiated to fit the world; it calls the world to conversion."

Christopher Hale, who worked on the Joe Biden and Barack Obama presidential campaigns, wrote, "You told Pope Leo XIV to be more 'careful' when 'opining on theology' twice this week. The American bishops’ committee on doctrine rebuked you. Do you rescind those remarks?"

Political philosopher Kevin Vallier added, "This is STILL WRONG. Popes ALSO apply moral principles to the 'messy' world. And on Catholic teaching, they're not merely his view, in many cases. And the implication that TRUMP prays for the Pope and the Pope might not in return is a nasty dig."