Vice President JD Vance faced scrutiny on Wednesday after he denied reports that former President Donald Trump dismissed Americans’ financial struggles as irrelevant to Iran policy decisions.
During a press conference, Vance was asked whether he agreed with Trump’s alleged position that worsening financial conditions should not influence decisions regarding Iran. His response: “Well, I don’t think the president said that. I think that’s a misrepresentation of what the president said.”
Reporters pressed further: “Do you agree with the President’s position that Americans' financial situations should not be a consideration?”
Vance replied: “I don’t think he said that. (He did). I think that's a misrepresentation of what the president said.”
Vance’s denial came despite Trump’s explicit statements on Tuesday, captured in a viral video clip. When asked whether Americans’ financial struggles motivated his approach to Iran, Trump responded: “Not even a little bit.”
He added: “The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran is they can’t have a nuclear weapon. I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation, I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all. That’s the only thing that motivates me.”
Vance’s refusal to acknowledge Trump’s remarks underscores the growing Republican scrambling to distance themselves from the former president’s controversial statements. Earlier on Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson also appeared to downplay Trump’s comments, adopting an amnesiac stance when questioned.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that the U.S. economy is thriving, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released Tuesday, revealed that inflation rose to 3.8% in April, outpacing wage growth, which stood at 3.6%.
Public sentiment reflects the economic strain. A CNN poll found that 77% of Americans blame Trump for rising costs of living in their communities—a 37% increase from 2024. The poll also indicated that Trump’s net economic approval rating is among the worst in history.
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