Vice President JD Vance engaged in damage control on Wednesday following President Donald Trump’s assertion that he does not factor in Americans’ financial circumstances when negotiating a deal to end the war in Iran. During a White House event centered on the Trump administration’s so-called “war on fraud,” Vance faced questions from reporters regarding the president’s controversial comments.
Vance’s Response
When asked, “Do you agree with the president’s position that Americans’ financial situations should not be a consideration?” Vance replied, “Well, I don’t think the president said that, I think that’s a misrepresentation of what the president said.” He added, “Look, I agree with the president that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon. We’re obviously engaged in a very aggressive and very engaged diplomatic process to try to ensure that that doesn’t happen, and the president has a lot of options.”
Previous Trump Statement
Trump had earlier stated in response to a reporter’s question about the extent to which Americans’ financial situations motivate him to make a deal: “Not even a little bit. I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation.”
Speaker Johnson’s Reaction
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also deflected questions about Trump’s remarks on Wednesday. When asked about the issue, Johnson attempted to feign ignorance, stating he didn’t “know the context in which he made that comment.” He further explained, “I can tell you the president thinks about Americans’ financial situations. I talk to him, on average, twice a day, sometimes three or four times a day, and we talk about it constantly.”
Both Vance and Johnson’s comments come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, with Trump insisting on a tough stance.
