Instability in President Trump’s administration; Focus on J.D. Vance
I taught Presidential rhetoric for over 50 years; thus, for those of you who take what follows with a grain of salt, I would suggest instead that you take it as gospel.
This country has sported some truly awful vice presidents. To name just a few, there were: 1. Aaron Burr, who proudly killed former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804 in which Hamilton refused to take part…2. Henry Wallace, the admitted Soviet Union-supporting Communist (how was he vetted?)…3. Spiro Agnew, who left the vice-presidency pursuant to bribery revelations. And Kamala Harris, the cloddish and generally debating incompetent of whom you can see in a tape of an impersonator:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=800557228951978
There are hints…there have always been hints…
It is well known that Vice President J.D. Vance over a decade ago was anti-Trump and then changed his tune.
It is less well-known that Vance was perceived as “maybe less enthusiastic” about the Iranian attack at the beginning of the war.
If you have ever seen Vance being publicly questioned about the attack(s) on Iran, you can see that he hems and haws and then claims that as long as Trump conducts the military activity consistent with his goals – what does that mean exactly? – that he and the president are on the same page.
It is reliably reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance are “Best Friends.”
Maybe. But I wouldn’t bet on this lasting — odds may be 40-60…
There have been signals that Vance is a silent partner in the anti-Iran-War movement and maybe anti-Cuban policy as well. And that Rubio is a reliable supporter of Trumpian foreign policy and the movement against Iran and particularly Cuba.
The Daily Beast reports that Vance, relatively quiet on the Iran War issues, met with Director of National Counter Terrorism Center Joe Kent before his resignation and mildly asked Kent to consider his decision before acting.
Vance and Gabbard, says the DB, “have been uncharacteristically silent since Trump made the decision to attack Iran more than two weeks ago.”
Wishful thinking by the DB? I don’t think so, since many folks have perceived the same ambivalence.
Prediction: the Vance-Rubio will become shaky and shakier as wartime goes on. Same with Vance and Trump.
Could I be wrong?
Possibly. But if I were a betting man – I am not – I would bet a bundle that if Trump leaves office and Vance becomes president, you will see an indisputable reversal of Vancean positions and the end of the Rubio-Vance “Best Friendship.” And Trumpian foreign policy will be a thing of the past.
Sad.
Richard E. Vatz https://wp.towson.edu/vatz/ is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of political rhetoric at Towson University and author of The Only Authentic of Persuasion: the Agenda-Spin Model (Bookwrights House, 2024) and over 200 other works, essays, lectures, and op-eds. He is the benefactor of the Richard E. Vatz Best Debater Award at Towson. The Van Bokkelen Auditorium at Towson University has been named after him.