VP Vance Defends Administration's Iran Policy Amid Criticism

Vance says he trusts President Trump to 'get the job done' with Iran despite past skepticism

Mar. 17, 2026 at 8:01am

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US Vice President JD Vance on Monday defended the administration's foreign policy on Iran, saying members of the administration are in complete harmony and that he trusts President Trump to 'get the job done'. Vance sidestepped questions about his previous statements expressing skepticism about US involvement in foreign conflicts, saying the current president is 'smart' unlike 'dumb presidents' in the past.

Why it matters

Vance's comments come as the administration faces growing questions about the ongoing military campaign against Iran, which has resulted in over 200 US troops being wounded or injured across seven countries. This highlights the political tensions and differing views within the administration on foreign policy, particularly regarding the US's role in the Middle East.

The details

When asked about his previous statements expressing skepticism about US involvement in the war with Iran, Vance said he trusts President Trump 'to get the job done' and that the administration is in 'complete harmony' on foreign policy. Vance contrasted Trump's leadership with previous 'dumb presidents', saying he believes the current president will avoid the 'mistakes of the past'.

  • On March 17, 2026, Vance made the comments defending the administration's Iran policy.

The players

JD Vance

The current US Vice President who previously expressed skepticism about US involvement in foreign conflicts but is now defending the administration's Iran policy.

President Trump

The current US President whom Vance says he trusts 'to get the job done' with Iran.

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What they’re saying

“You're trying to drive a wedge between members of the administration, between me and the president. What the president said consistently going back to 2015, and I agreed with him, is that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon.”

— JD Vance, US Vice President (CNN)

“is that 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”

— JD Vance, US Vice President (CNN)

What’s next

The administration will likely continue to face questions and scrutiny over its handling of the ongoing military campaign against Iran, particularly as the number of US casualties continues to rise.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the political tensions and differing views within the administration on foreign policy, with the Vice President now publicly defending the President's approach despite his own past skepticism. It remains to be seen whether the administration can maintain a united front on this issue going forward.