Vance Silent on Iran War Amid Claims of Split With Trump
The vice president has reportedly been pushed out of the president’s trusted inner circle.

White House/X
Vice President JD Vance has kept a low profile following claims that he has differences with Donald Trump over the United States waging war on Iran.
Vance has made no secret of his skepticism over America’s involvement in foreign wars, and sources say the split has affected his relationship with the president. As everyone else in Trump’s inner circle took on key assignments for the unauthorized strike on Iran, Vance was notably quiet.
According to the New York Times, Vance did not oppose a strike but “intensely questioned” the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, and CIA chief John Ratcliffe at a planning meeting for the attacks at the White House two days before the attacks.
The Atlantic also reported that Vance had reservations about the war plans.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and the national security team joined Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday as the strikes were launched on Iran in Saturday’s early hours.

JD Vance was positioned in the White House Situation Room, where his vice-presidential seal replaced that of the president. Also there was (second left) ardent anti-Iran war campaigner Tulsi Gabbard, who is the Director of National Intelligence; Chris Wright, the Energy Secretary (far left) and (right) Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary
White House/X

The White House released two photos showing Marco Rubio with Trump and only one image of Vance—who was not with Trump.
White House/X
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was tasked with informing lawmakers about the impending attack, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was heading up the communications team.
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Meanwhile, Vance remained at the White House with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright in the Situation Room, where they were kept in touch via a secure line.
Nothing was heard from Vance in the immediate aftermath of the bombings.

Trump launched his war from a hastily constructed space in Mar-a-Lago with (left) John Ratcliffe, the Director of the CIA, (fourth from right) Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and (second from right), Dan Scavino, his golf caddy turned aide.
White House / X
While Vance and Rubio were vying for Trump’s attention, sources say the VP’s reticence about a conflict with Iran was seen by the president as a sign of disloyalty.

PLOVER, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 26: U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks at Pointe Precision on February 26, 2026 in Plover, Wisconsin. Following the State of the Union, Vance is visiting the Pointe Precision machining facility. (Photo by Matt Rourke-Pool/Getty Images)
Pool/Getty Images
Instead, he is being sent out to U.S. cities to plug the administration’s affordability and energy programs, and this week was put in charge of uncovering fraud.
At the same time, Rubio is winning plaudits from the commander-in-chief for juggling negotiations in the Ukraine War, Gaza, Cuba, and Iran.

Rubio has reportedly moved into a favored position with Trump after his demonstrated war willingness.
Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images
A spokesperson for the vice president maintained it was “categorically false” that Vance had been frozen out by the president.
“The vice president was fully integrated in the planning process and monitored the execution of the operation from the situation room,” he said.
“The vice president remained in Washington to maintain operational secrecy, and in keeping with the administration’s security protocols to limit the president and vice president co-locating away from the White House,” he added.
The day before bombs rained down on Tehran, Vance insisted there was “no chance” there would be a prolonged conflict with Iran.
“The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight—there is no chance that will happen,” he said.
He added in an interview with the Washington Post that he didn’t know what Trump was planning to do about Iran, but claimed that he and Trump were “skeptics of foreign military interventions.”
On Friday, Rubio was telling Americans to get out of Iran as soon as possible and declaring the country a state sponsor of wrongful detention as the clock ticked towards an attack. Later, he contacted seven of the eight members of the gang of eight key lawmakers on Capitol Hill to tell them what was about to happen.
On Saturday, Trump called for regime change and made it clear it wasn’t a limited operation.
There was not a peep from Vance.
Unlock a year of full access to The Looker and The Daily Beast for $35.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Looker and The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Sign in
Login dialog



ADVERTISEMENT
Sign in or create an account
Login dialog
Loading comments…
ADVERTISEMENT