White House Press Briefing Held After Weeks-Long Gap; Vance Fields Questions Across Wide Range of Topics

Vice President JD Vance led Thursday’s White House press briefing — the first since Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stepped away from the podium role. Vance addressed reporters on topics ranging from the economy to the ongoing conflict with Iran. The briefing came roughly six months into US involvement in the Iran war and ahead of the midterms, amid concerns over rising oil prices and inflation. It began 45 minutes late and ran for about an hour.
On the economy, Vance said inflation had taken root under the previous administration. Steering away from blame, he pointed to new factory construction as evidence of ongoing economic recovery and argued that a Democratic return to power would worsen inflation.
Vance denied that current US policy had disrupted the Strait of Hormuz or triggered any energy crisis, crediting President Trump with averting a global energy shortage. He urged Iran to stop targeting commercial shipping vessels.
Asked about turmoil at the Department of Defense, Vance said he agreed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s efforts to reshape military culture. He also addressed a controversial “antichrist” remark he had made the previous day, which came under renewed scrutiny during the briefing.
On the 9/11 anniversary, Vance confirmed plans to attend commemorations in New York alongside former President Biden. Asked about public opposition to data centers, he linked it to broader concerns over US infrastructure development and referenced plans to pair data centers with new nuclear power plants.
Asked about the war’s duration, Vance said questions about its end should be directed at Iran — a comment that drew immediate pushback from reporters. He declined to comment on speculation about 2028 presidential contenders, saying his focus remained on the midterms.
Social media reaction sharply split
On X, Vance’s supporters praised him as articulate, sharp, and unscripted, particularly welcoming his direct answers on Iran, the economy, and the midterms, calling him capable and high-IQ. Critics, however, blasted his tone as self-satisfied, pompous, and arrogant. Many singled out his sarcastic joke about “spending time” with Biden on the 9/11 anniversary, calling it callous and distasteful — especially given Biden’s health issues. Several dismissed the entire briefing as full of falsehoods and tedious.