During a meeting with the Ukrainian president in the Oval Office, the US VP defended the president, according to the WSJ.
President Trump was reportedly impressed by Vice President J.D. Vance’s handling of a difficult exchange with Ukrainian President Zelensky in the Oval Office, sources within the administration told the Wall Street Journal. The meeting took place at the White House on Friday, prior to the planned signing of a minerals agreement between the two countries.
The WSJ labeled Vance a “MAGA champion” following the confrontation, in a Saturday article.
While Trump and Zelensky answered questions, Vance initially remained mostly quiet. However, when a reporter asked Trump about aligning with Putin, Vance, who has been critical of US aid to Ukraine, intervened. He praised Trump’s diplomatic efforts and criticized the previous administration’s policies under Biden. Zelensky responded, and the conversation intensified.
During the heated discussion, Vance pointed out Ukraine’s difficulties in recruiting more soldiers. He also stated that Zelensky should be “thanking” Trump for his attempts to resolve the conflict. Vance further criticized Zelensky’s recent public appearances that highlighted the war’s devastation, calling them “propaganda tours,” and called the Ukrainian leader “disrespectful.” The disagreement led to the premature end of the day’s scheduled activities.
Trump is said to have told White House staff that his previous vice president “would have never done that.” Mike Pence held the vice presidency during Trump’s first term. Their political relationship soured after the January 6th Capitol riots, when Pence refused Trump’s demands to prevent Congress from certifying Biden’s 2020 election victory.
The White House later released supportive statements from Republican lawmakers and administration officials. Senator Lindsey Graham stated, “I was very proud of J.D. Vance, standing up for our country.” Senator Mike Lee referred to Vance as the “GOAT,” meaning “greatest of all time.”
Vance, at 40 years old, is the third-youngest vice president in US history. His relationship with Trump has changed significantly since Trump’s first term. Vance was once a vocal critic, opposing Trump’s 2016 candidacy and calling him “cultural heroin” for conservatives, while also questioning his character. However, he later changed his position, securing Trump’s endorsement during his successful 2022 Senate campaign, solidifying his position within Trump’s inner circle.
Last month, on his first international trip as vice president, Vance caused controversy with a speech at the Munich Security Conference. He criticized European leaders for censoring free speech and ignoring public concerns about migration.
Vance maintains a strong relationship with Trump, although Trump has not yet announced him as his successor. In February, Trump told Fox News that he considered Vance “very capable” but also mentioned that “there are a lot of very capable people.” However, Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), referred to Vance as “our future President” on Saturday.
“`