Vice President JD Vance fielded voter questions on high gas prices, troop casualties in the Iran war and his political future during a Michigan town hall.
Vice President JD Vance defended the administration’s economic record and foreign policy during an hour-long town hall in Flat Rock, Michigan, that aired Saturday evening. The event, hosted by CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil, took place in a swing state where Republicans and Democrats are competing in a tight Senate race ahead of next month’s midterm elections.
Voters questioned Vance on persistent inflation, military security, immigration rhetoric and federal ethics, CBS News reported. When asked whether he plans to seek the presidency in 2028, Vance said, “Of course there’s a chance” that he might not run. He described himself as someone who puts off major decisions, noting that he and his wife, Usha Vance, are raising four young children and that his wife has never liked politics.
Cost of living and energy prices
The town hall opened with questions about financial pressure on households and businesses. A Detroit barber noted that fuel costs remain elevated compared with President Donald Trump’s first term. Vance blamed the price increases partly on disruptions to global shipping caused by Iran, while also asserting that American refining capacity fell by roughly 20 percent during the Biden administration, according to Fox News. Dokoupil pointed out that the current administration has held office for nearly two years while prices have stayed high. Vance said the White House is using the Defense Production Act to rebuild domestic refining, but warned that restoring that capacity takes time.
A small-business owner told Vance that her family entertainment center is barely surviving. Vance argued that long-term federal policies over several generations had neglected domestic manufacturing and sent jobs abroad. While unemployment remains low, inflation has stayed above the Federal Reserve’s 2% annual benchmark, and manufacturing employment has stayed flat. Vance pointed to planned investments from major Detroit automakers and maintained that the administration is turning the economy around, though he said rebuilding industrial infrastructure takes more than 18 months.
Military casualties and security failures
Dokoupil asked Vance why the military had not secured a decisive victory in the conflict with Iran, which began in late February. Vance claimed that American strikes had wiped out Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, but added that Washington still requires an enforceable agreement to prevent Tehran from rebuilding those capabilities. Earlier in the conflict, administration officials also demanded that Tehran reduce uranium enrichment to end war conditions.
The human toll of the conflict was raised by Joey Amor, whose wife, Master Sgt. Nicole Amor of the U.S. Army Reserve, died alongside five other soldiers in a March 1 Iranian drone attack in Kuwait, CBS News reported. The incident remains the deadliest single attack on American personnel during the war, which has killed 21 U.S. service members. Amor questioned Vance about leadership failures and reports that the Kuwait facility lacked sufficient defenses. Vance called Nicole Amor a precious human being and said the town hall was the first time he had heard those specific concerns. He promised to look into what happened, stating that the military recognized troop placement mistakes and has changed tactics to counter drone strikes.
Immigration and administration ethics
Vance also faced criticism over his public statements regarding immigration. A naturalized citizen questioned his past remarks describing some H-1B visa holders as indentured workers. Vance said any flawed rhetoric was his own fault, explaining that his criticism targeted businesses that use the visa system to replace domestic workers rather than the immigrant workers themselves. He argued that rapid immigration can erode community ties when newcomers do not assimilate.
Dokoupil also pressed Vance on voter concerns about government ethics following the resignation of Kimberly Guilfoyle as U.S. ambassador to Greece over allegations that she solicited money for administration access. Vance stated that selling government access would be despicable, though he maintained that he has not witnessed corruption from the president. Vance pledged that he would comply with congressional subpoenas if Democrats win control of Congress in the upcoming elections.
