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U.S. Vice President JD Vance has begun emphasizing his own political priorities and distancing his campaign message from some of President Donald Trump’s signature policies after Republicans lost control of Congress in the midterm elections, Reuters reported.
A Reuters review of six speeches since the Republican convention in September found that Vance increasingly focused on economic nationalism, foreign policy restraint and public safety while largely avoiding discussion of the Iran war, deportations and Trump himself.
The shift was deliberate, according to two people familiar with the strategy, who said Vance and his advisers viewed those issues as areas where he could speak with particular authority.
Vance, 42, has not said whether he will seek the presidency in 2028, and Trump has not endorsed a candidate. But some Republican officials view him as a leading potential contender who would need to retain much of Trump’s coalition while establishing his own political identity.
Vance took a more direct step Wednesday when he blamed the Iran war for Republicans’ midterm losses and outlined priorities for a party comeback.
He called for a swift end to the conflict, urged Republicans to focus on affordability and reconsider foreign relationships, and called for an overhaul of the U.S. relationship with Israel.
Trump has acknowledged that the Iran war contributed to Republican losses because of higher gasoline prices but continued to defend the conflict.
“I would have done nothing different,” Trump told reporters Wednesday.
Three people familiar with the White House and Vance’s communications told Reuters that Vance was not breaking with Trump and that then-White House chief of staff Susie Wiles knew in advance about his social media post. Reuters could not determine whether Trump himself knew about it beforehand.
Donald Trump Jr. and several conservative allies publicly backed Vance’s remarks.
Republican strategist Michael Ricci said Vance’s intervention had helped push conservatives to debate both the Iran war and the policies Republican presidential candidates could embrace in 2028.
“It’s simplistic to say this about him looking for ways to differentiate himself from Trump,” Ricci told Reuters. “This is about him using his megaphone of the vice presidency to set the terms of debate.”
Trump reshuffled senior White House leadership Friday, replacing Wiles with Stephen Miller.
Vance’s political standing was also tested during the midterms, with Republicans losing in states where he campaigned.
Other possible 2028 contenders have offered their own explanations for the defeat. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Republicans had not focused enough on affordability, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis argued losing candidates spent too much time on transgender issues and not enough on concerns such as data centers and artificial intelligence.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has remained silent.
During the final days of campaigning, Vance urged voters to back Republicans over issues including alleged fraud in federal health care and anti-poverty programs, immigration and the cost of living, while rarely mentioning Trump by name or focusing on the Iran war.
“I want my kids to raise a family in a country that is vibrant and thriving and free and prosperous,” Vance told one of his final rallies in North Carolina. “I want the simple things. And because I want that for me, I want it for you too.”
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