President Donald Trump on Thursday told Vice President JD Vance to shift his attention away from the eight-month-old Iran war and toward fighting corruption and crime in Democratic-controlled cities and states. The directive came in a social media post days after Republicans suffered sweeping losses in the midterm elections.
Vance, who led negotiations for a short-lived truce over the summer, had bluntly blamed the war and its economic fallout for the Republican defeats. In a post on X, he wrote, "If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest."
Trump responded by declaring the military conflict effectively over and dismissing the need for a deal with Iran. "We don't need a deal with Iran," Trump posted. "Those days have long since passed. We've got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we've got their Strait!" He directed Vance to devote his "complete and total attention" to an anti-fraud campaign.
The exchange followed a Wall Street Journal report that Vance was considering new direct talks with a senior Iranian official. It also came as Democrats prepare to launch oversight investigations into Trump's business dealings when they take control of Congress in January. The vice president's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Vance is weighing a 2028 presidential run, and dissatisfaction with the war could complicate those ambitions. Trump has not endorsed a successor, telling "60 Minutes" he "may or may not get involved." Earlier this week, Trump said Qatari mediation was progressing but reiterated on the "Hugh Hewitt Show" that he stood ready to restart strikes if necessary.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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