Trump Harshly Criticizes Iran Amendment as “Terrible Offer”
Vance manages the atmosphere, claiming “negotiations are progressing”
“Prices weren’t good”… Vance acknowledges economic burden of war
Vance gives joking response to question on rivalry with Rubio
JD Vance, the Vice President of the United States, held a press conference at the White House in Washington D.C. on the 13th, local time. Following President Donald Trump’s public denunciation of Iran’s revised negotiation proposal as “garbage,” Vice President Vance tempered the rhetoric by stating that negotiations are progressing.
At the White House press conference, Vance mentioned, “We believe that discussions are moving forward,” emphasizing that “the crucial point is whether the benchmarks set by President Trump can be met.” He underscored one of the U.S.’s key demands: establishing concrete barriers to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, marking nuclear issues as a non-negotiable condition.
This message from Vice President Vance contrasts with President Trump’s strong remarks the previous day. Just before embarking on a visit to China, Trump harshly criticized Iran’s proposed revision to the armistice as “unacceptable” and a “terrible offer.” Analysts suggest that these statements were intended to put pressure on the negotiation table, hinting at a potential mixed strategy of hard and soft approaches within the White House.
Vice President Vance also acknowledged that the aftermath of the war is burdening the U.S. economy. Commenting on recent inflation figures, he said, “Last month’s figures fell short of expectations,” indicating that more needs to be done to alleviate the economic burden felt by American citizens.
In fact, the Producer Price Index (PPI) for April, released on that day, showed a 6.0% increase compared to the same period last year, marking the highest level since the end of 2022. The rising energy costs due to Middle Eastern tensions are said to be impacting overall business expenses.
Moreover, Vice President Vance stepped in to address President Trump’s recent controversial remarks. Trump’s statement that “the financial situation of Americans is not considered; what matters is preventing Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” stirred controversy. Vance clarified that “the President’s comments were misinterpreted,” stressing that Trump views the U.S. economy and citizens’ livelihood issues as very important.
During the press conference, Vice President Vance was also asked about his potential rivalry with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the next presidential race. Vance responded with humor, saying, “Choosing a successor as if it’s a TV show competition is not very presidential,” likening it to President Trump’s former NBC reality program “The Apprentice,” which elicited laughter from the audience. While Vance praised Secretary Rubio as a “good friend,” he avoided making any specific comments about any presidential ambitions, stating that “now is the time to focus on the vice-presidential role.”
Meanwhile, Vance also directly addressed issues with the operation of Medicaid in California. He announced a halt on $1.3 billion (approximately 1.8 trillion KRW) of federal funding to California, citing ongoing fraudulent claims issues in the low-income health insurance program, Medicaid. He warned that if state governments do not cooperate in curbing fraudulent claims, federal funding related to the issue could be entirely cut off. This move is interpreted by some as an attempt to politicize welfare budget issues in typically Democratic stronghold areas.