Iran strikes push Vance, a foreign intervention skeptic, into the role of salesman

When he endorsed Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid, then-Sen. JD Vance framed his support around a simple idea: Trump had started no wars in his first term.
Now serving as his vice president, Vance is being called on to make a more complicated case in defense of Trump's decision Saturday to drop bombs on nuclear enrichment sites in Iran.
Vance was by Trump's side in the White House Situation Room during the strikes, and at the televised address to announce them. And the next morning, he appeared on two Sunday news shows to answer for the United States' direct plunge into a conflict between Israel and Iran.
The U.S., Vance asserted on NBC News' ' Meet the Press,' was not at war with Iran but, rather, with Iran's nuclear weapons program. Diplomacy, Vance added, 'was never given a real chance by the Iranians.' And on ABC's ' This Week,' Vance argued that Trump's contention that Iran's nuclear capabilities had been 'completely and totally obliterated' was not meaningfully different from a tamer characterization in The New York Times that the program had been 'severely damaged.'
Vance's salesmanship Sunday — amplified along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio's by the White House's rapid response team in a stream of clips posted on social media — was not out of line with some of his more hawkish statements on Iran. But his TV appearances were also meant to reassure others who, like Vance, have been broadly skeptical of or opposed to foreign intervention.
'I certainly empathize with Americans who are exhausted after 25 years of foreign entanglements in the Middle East,' Vance said on 'Meet the Press.' 'I understand the concern, but the difference is that back then, we had dumb presidents, and now we have a president who actually knows how to accomplish America's national security objectives.'
A clash with Iran, Vance added, 'is not going to be some long, drawn out thing. We've got in, we've done the job of setting their nuclear program back. We're going to now work to permanently dismantle that nuclear program over the coming years, and that is what the president has set out to do. Simple principle: Iran can't have a nuclear weapon.'
Vance 'was selected to be VP in part for situations exactly like this,' said a person close to Trump's team who was granted anonymity to share internal thinking.
'The president has total trust in his ability to effectively communicate the administration's message, especially in hostile territory, in a manner that can bring his coalition together, instead of dividing it,' this person added.
A divided coalition has been a concern inside Trump world since Israel launched air strikes against Iran last week, prompting retaliation from Iran — and fears that the U.S. would soon become more directly involved in the conflict.
Many influential figures in Trump's MAGA movement, from former Trump adviser Steve Bannon to young right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, have strong isolationist or anti-intervention views and popular platforms from which to share them.
Vance himself has been a tip of the spear for such positions, which he articulated in the January 2023 guest column he wrote to endorse Trump in the Wall Street Journal. Several people in Trump's orbit have cited that endorsement, which came at a low moment in Trump's 2024 campaign, as a key building block in a relationship that blossomed into the vice presidency.
'In Mr. Trump's four years in office, he started no wars despite enormous pressure from his own party and even members of his own administration,' Vance wrote in the column, which appeared online under the headline 'Trump's Best Foreign Policy? Not Starting Any Wars.'
'Not starting wars is perhaps a low bar, but that's a reflection of the hawkishness of Mr. Trump's predecessors and the foreign-policy establishment they slavishly followed,' Vance added.
That worldview, held by Vance and others, was at the time particularly potent given far-right opposition to U.S. intervention in Russia's war against Ukraine. But those close to Vance note that he has over time applied a more nuanced thinking toward Iran.
Speaking last year on a show hosted by Morgan Ortagus, a foreign policy operative who has served Trump as a deputy special presidential envoy to the Middle East, Vance called for an 'aggressive' approach to ensure that Iran does not develop or deploy a nuclear weapon.
'And if, God forbid, they get there, then I think you have to be willing to take some extreme steps — if they're going to be effective — to ensure that they don't have a broader nuclear capability, that they can't launch nuclear missiles all over the Middle East or even all over the world,' Vance said in the interview. 'I think we have to be aggressive with this, and I come at this from a position of some restraint in foreign policy. I think war often leads to unintended consequences but preventing Iran from getting a bomb — really, really important.'
In a Fox News interview during last year's Republican National Convention, Vance held up Trump's first term drone attack that killed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani as an example of smart leadership.
'A lot of people recognize that we need to do something with Iran, but not these weak little bombing runs,' Vance told host Sean Hannity. 'If you're going to punch the Iranians, you punch them hard. And that's what he did when he took out Soleimani.'
More recently, at last month's Munich Leaders Conference in Washington, Vance described Iran's nuclear program as a tipping point.
'We really think that if the Iran domino falls, you're going to see nuclear proliferation all over the Middle East,' Vance said. 'That's very bad for us. It's very bad for our friends. And it's something that we don't think can happen.'
Last week, as anticipation of U.S. intervention grew, Vance used his personal X account to issue a 374-word preemptive defense of whatever Trump might decide to do with Iran.
The president, Vance wrote, 'has earned some trust on this issue. And having seen this up close and personal, I can assure you that he is only interested in using the American military to accomplish the American people's goals. Whatever he does, that is his focus.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Scottish Sun

an hour ago

• Scottish Sun

Trump says US took ‘bomb out of Iran's hands' and caused ‘monumental' damage as Tehran vows to retaliate

BRACING FOR STRIKES Trump says US took 'bomb out of Iran's hands' and caused 'monumental' damage as Tehran vows to retaliate DONALD Trump said that the US military took the "bomb out of Iran's hands" and caused "monumental" damage to Tehran's nuclear ambitions. The Islamic Republic - hurt and wounded - has vowed to retaliate by striking US targets in the Middle East. 5 United States President Donald J Trump addresseed the nation after bombing Iran Credit: AP 5 A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex after the US strikes Credit: Reuters 5 Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is expected to retaliate against US and its allies 5 Iran's murderous terrorist wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 5 Slamming Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman who opposed the US miliatry intervention in the region, Trump said: "We had a spectacular military success yesterday, taking the 'bomb' right out of their hands (and they would use it if they could!) but, as usual, and despite all of the praise and accolades received, this 'lightweight' Congressman is against what was so brilliantly achieved last night." Trump last night hailed the US military bombing on Iran's key nuclear facilities, saying the strikes "obliterated" Tehran's doomsday program. He said: "The damage to the Nuclear sites in Iran is said to be 'monumental'. The hits were hard and accurate." Tehran retaliated to the US bombing by approving steps to close the Strait of Hormuz - a bottleneck entrance to the Gulf where nearly a quarter of the oil shipped around the world passes through narrow waters. Iran's Press TV said closing the strait would require approval from the Supreme National Security Council, a body led by an appointee of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Attempting to choke off Gulf oil by closing the strait could send global oil prices skyrocketing and derail the world economy. It would also invite an almost certain conflict with the US Navy's massive Fifth Fleet based in the Gulf, which is tasked with keeping it open. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a "suicide mission," adding it would be a massive escalation that would merit a response from the US and others. Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said bases used by US forces could be attacked in retaliation. 'Any country in the region or elsewhere that is used by American forces to strike Iran will be considered a legitimate target for our armed forces,' he said in a message carried by the official IRNA news agency. 'America has attacked the heart of the Islamic world and must await irreparable consequences.' Tehran has so far not followed through on its threats of retaliation against the United States - either by targeting US bases or trying to choke off global oil supplies. But that may not hold up. Trump warned that further action could be taken if Tehran doesn't agree to an adequate peace deal, or tries to harm American interests. He said in a nationally televised speech at the White House: "Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier." "There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days." 'Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight's was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal. 'But if peace does not come quickly we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill." Stay up to date with the latest on Israel vs Iran with The Sun's live blog below...

NBC News

an hour ago

• NBC News

U.S. braces for Iran's response after strikes on nuclear sites: Weekend Rundown

The United States is bracing for Iran's response after President Donald Trump launched punishing strikes on Iranian nuclear energy sites Saturday. It was the first time the U.S. has directly bombed the Islamic Republic. The U.S. struck Iranian nuclear facilities, including the key Fordo site, with 14 GBU-57s, 30,000-pound 'bunker buster bombs,' according to the U.S. military. On Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that while the U.S. did not want war, it will 'act swiftly and decisively when our people, our partners or our interests are threatened.' The few days are of particular concern, according to two defense officials and a senior White House official. It's unclear whether any retaliation would target overseas or domestic locations, or both, the officials said. While Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of 'everlasting consequences,' experts say the country has limited options. Constraints Iran's capacity to strike is narrower than it once was. H.A. Hellyer, a senior associate at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, told NBC News that Iran still has the power to attack, 'but only because Israelis haven't taken out all of their missile launchers.' Iran still has around 40% of its launchers, Hellyer said. Iran's proxy network has also been battered by years of attrition with Israel and the U.S. Its most important ally, Hezbollah in Lebanon, has indicated it would not join the fight against Israel. Iran may also lack staunch support from its neighbors — some Gulf nations stopped short of condemning the U.S. attacks on Iran, calling instead for de-escalation. Cyber threats The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' cyber capabilities are formidable, and the U.S. considers Iran one of its four major adversaries in cyberspace along with China, North Korea and Russia. While Iran lacks Russia's robust cybercrime syndicates or China's vast teams of sophisticated digital spies, the U.S. has in recent years accused Iranians of working for the IRGC. If Iran conduct retaliatory cyberattacks, they would come in the wake of several rounds of cuts to the Trump administration's top civilian cyber defense agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. CISA's two former directors have both warned that the administration's cuts make U.S. infrastructure more vulnerable to hackers. 'Meet the Press' Vice President JD Vance said the U.S. is not at war with Iran, but with Tehran's nuclear weapons program. During an interview on NBC News' 'Meet the Press,' moderator Kristen Welker asked the vice president whether the U.S. was now at war with Iran. 'We're not at war with Iran,' Vance said. 'We're at war with Iran's nuclear program.' Vance also declined to confirm with 100% confidence that the country's nuclear sites had been completely destroyed. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., meanwhile, brushed off concerns that Trump had acted without authorization from Congress. 'Congress can declare war or cut off funding. We can't be the commander in chief. You can't have 535 commander in chiefs,' Graham said, referring to the number of representatives and senators. But Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said that the president can act militarily 'when there's a clear and imminent threat to U.S. citizens, to the United States, to the homeland.' 'That wasn't the case here,' Kelly said. Politics in brief Flip-flop: Across the country, 20-point margins in counties Republicans were winning at the turn of the century have turned into 50-point margins or more in recent years. Political competitiveness at the local level is being replaced by landslide loyalty to a single party. Fighting on: After more than three months in ICE detention, Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil returned to the New York area, where his harrowing ordeal first began — and vowed to keep speaking out against the war in Gaza. Well, that's 'awkward': Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is considering a run for president in 2028, and admits the potential of taking on his friend and ally Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is 'going to be awkward.' War on porn brings together strange bedfellows Feminists, religious crusaders and 'alpha male' influencers are unlikely allies in the decades-old battle over adult content — and they're on a winning streak. Anti-porn campaigners have pushed states into implementing online age verification laws, while some politicians are pursuing aggressive bans on explicit content. Culturally, the view that porn is harmful not only to women but increasingly also to men and to the sexual development of young people has made significant inroads. Once viewed as a fringe moral crusade, the war against porn has ballooned into a multipronged, mainstream force over the past decade. Porn industry leaders have acknowledged their ongoing battle with deepfakes, underage content and revenge porn, including Pornhub, which removed millions of unverified videos from its website in 2020 following allegations that the site showed problematic content. Gail Dines, a key figure in the anti-porn movement for over 30 years, said the goal isn't necessarily to ban porn, but argued the industry has 'sowed the seeds of its own destruction.' NBA to crown its champion in Game 7 It all comes down to this. The NBA Finals. Game 7. The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy on the line. After a postseason filled with memorable games (and a handful of wild Indiana Pacers comebacks), the NBA will decide its champion when the Oklahoma City Thunder and star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander host Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers at the Paycom Center. NBC News will be covering Game 7 live from OKC. . Notable quote I think their parents did not raise them well enough. Esther Yang, New York City yoga instructor A cast of scandal-plagued candidates is testing the limits of what New York City voters will forgive, with Andrew Cuomo, Eric Adams and Anthony Weiner bringing no shortage of baggage to their political campaigns this year. In case you missed it A shooter at a Michigan church injured one person Sunday before being shot and killed by a security guard, according to local authorities. A hot-air balloon caught fire and tumbled from the sky on Saturday in Brazil's southern state of Santa Catarina, killing eight people. At least three people are dead in rural North Dakota after tornadoes left damage across eastern areas of the state, the Cass County Sheriff's Office said Saturday. The Phoenix Suns are reportedly trading forward Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick in this week's NBA draft and a slew of future picks. Fred Smith, the FedEx Corp. founder who revolutionized the express delivery industry, has died, the company said. He was 80. In Indianapolis, which is home to around 30,000 Burmese people, a travel ban and tariffs on goods from Myanmar have hit local businesses hard. Dozens of people suffered minor injuries when a yacht carrying 352 passengers crashed into a pier on the Hudson River in New York City, authorities said.

The Sun

an hour ago

• The Sun

Trump says US took ‘bomb out of Iran's hands' and caused ‘monumental' damage as Tehran vows to retaliate

Muslim countries urge end to Israel's 'aggression' against Iran Foreign ministers from countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Sunday urged Israel to end its "aggression" towards Iran, without mentioning the US strikes on the Islamic Republic's nuclear sites. Arch-rivals Israel and Iran have been at war since June 13 when Israel, claiming Tehran was on the verge of acquiring a nuclear bomb, launched a wave of devastating air strikes, killing top army commanders and scientists. Iran immediately retaliated, and the two sides have been trading barrages since. The ministers "condemn firmly the aggression of Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran, stress the urgent need to stop Israeli attacks and their great concern regarding this dangerous escalation", said an OIC statement It was published at the end of an OIC meeting in Istanbul this weekend. It made no direct reference to the US bombardment of Iran's key nuclear facilities early Sunday, after President Donald Trump decided to join Israel's strikes on Iran's nuclear programme. But the OIC did denounce the "destabilisation policies of Israel in the region and its recent attacks on Iran, Syria, and Lebanon, constituting flagrant (a) violation of sovereignty and security of these countries and international law". Attending the OIC meeting, Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said Sunday morning that the United States and Israel had "breached a major red line". Tehran would hit back at the American barrage "by all means necessary", he added. Founded in 1969, the 57-member OIC sees its role as protecting the interests of the Muslim world and increasing Muslim solidarity.