Vice President JD Vance engaged in a heated exchange with CNN's chief White House correspondent on Tuesday, defending President Donald Trump's controversial remarks about not factoring Americans' financial well-being into his decisions regarding the conflict with Iran.
Speaking from the White House briefing room, Vance attempted to downplay Trump's statement that he does not think about Americans' financial situation, a comment that has drawn widespread criticism. Vance claimed the remark was taken out of context, despite Trump himself reaffirming it in a subsequent interview.
The exchange with CNN's Kaitlan Collins
When Collins pressed Vance on his previous denial that Trump made the comment, Vance accused her of misrepresenting both his earlier response and the original question. He stated, “What you did is you misrepresented the question that I was asked and then you misrepresented the answer that I gave.” Vance insisted that Trump never said he did not care about Americans' finances, ignoring that Trump had explicitly told reporters, “I don't think about Americans' financial situation.”
Vance elaborated that Trump's focus during negotiations with Iran is on national security objectives, and that the president cares deeply about Americans' prosperity. He cited record job growth, wage increases, and new investments as evidence of Trump's concern.
Trump's economic record under scrutiny
The controversy comes amid rising inflation and gas prices. The Labor Department reported a 3.8% increase in the Consumer Price Index from the previous year, with gasoline prices surging 5.4% in the last month alone. The ongoing standoff with Iran has disrupted oil shipments, contributing to higher costs.
A CNN/SSRS poll revealed that 77% of respondents blame Trump's policies for rising living costs, including tariffs and the conflict with Iran. The average price for a gallon of regular fuel reached $4.50, up from $3.13 a year ago. Consumer prices rose 3.8% in April, and 70% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy.
Vance's briefing was part of a rotation of senior officials filling in for Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is on maternity leave. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also conducted a briefing last week.
