Vance pushes back on past criticisms of foreign intervention

Vice President JD Vance on Monday pushed back on the suggestion that he has reservations about the U.S. operation in Iran due to his past criticisms on foreign interventionism.

“You’re trying to drive a wedge between members of the administration, between me and the president. What the president has said consistently, going back to 2015 and I agree with them, is that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon,” Vance, standing next to Trump, told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if he was supportive of the U.S. operation in Iran.

“We have taken this military action under the president’s leadership,” he continued. “I think all of us, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, should pray for success and pray for the safety of our troops. That’s the approach I’ve taken, making it as successful as possible.”

When pressed on whether he had any hesitation with the current operation based on his past statements, Vance said one difference is “we have a smart president whereas in the past, we’ve had dumb presidents.”

“And I trust President Trump to get the job done, to do a good job for the American people and to make sure that the mistakes of the past aren’t repeated,” the vice president said.

Trump also praised Vance’s stance on the operation.

“I think JD understands better than most, if you give Iran a nuclear weapon, at least a very substantial part of the world will be blown up, and it will be used almost immediately,” the president said.

Vance has been a vocal opponent of prolonged U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts in the past.

Trump, himself, noted last week that Vance was “maybe less enthusiastic” about the war in Iran at the beginning of the operation, noting they “get along on the matter.”

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