US President Donald Trump reportedly praised Vice President J.D. Vance for his handling of a tense exchange with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in the White House Oval Office on Friday. The two leaders met ahead of a signing ceremony for a minerals deal between Washington and Kiev, which was expected to be a celebratory event. However, the conversation took an unexpected turn, leading to a confrontation that ultimately cut short the day’s events.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to unnamed administration officials, Vance, who was mostly silent during the initial portion of the meeting, interjected when a reporter asked Trump if he aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vance took the opportunity to defend Trump’s diplomatic efforts and criticize the Biden administration’s policies, specifically in relation to Ukraine. The situation escalated when Zelensky pushed back on Vance’s remarks.
During the exchange, Vance pointed out Ukraine’s difficulties in conscripting additional troops, arguing that Zelensky should be thanking Trump for his previous attempts to resolve the conflict. Vance also accused Zelensky of using “propaganda tours” by publicizing the devastation of war and labeled him as “disrespectful.” The heated exchange led to the abrupt end of the event.
Trump reportedly expressed approval of Vance’s actions, telling White House staff that his former vice president, Mike Pence, “would have never done that.” Trump’s relationship with Pence soured after the January 2021 US Capitol riots, where Pence refused to comply with Trump’s demands to prevent the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
Following the incident, statements of support for Vance came from Republican lawmakers, including Senator Lindsey Graham, who praised Vance for standing up for the country, and Senator Mike Lee, who called him the “GOAT,” an acronym for “greatest of all time.”
Vance, at 40, is the third-youngest vice president in US history. His relationship with Trump has evolved since his vocal opposition to Trump’s 2016 candidacy, where he described Trump as “cultural heroin” for conservatives and questioned his character. However, Vance later shifted his stance, securing Trump’s endorsement in his successful 2022 Senate campaign, solidifying his position within Trump’s inner circle.
In a recent speech at the Munich Security Conference, Vance drew attention with critical remarks directed at European leaders, accusing them of suppressing free speech and neglecting public concerns about migration. His relationship with Trump remains strong, despite Trump’s refusal to comment on whether he considers Vance as a potential successor. However, tech billionaire Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), recently referred to Vance as “our future President,” sparking further speculation about Vance’s political future.
