Nicolai Haugsted
The vice president gives his opinion, after being asked about bizarre happening.
Donald Trump’s latest trip to China left the White House noticeably quieter than usual, and Vance decided to lean into the awkwardness instead of dodging it after Trump recently compared him to “a little boy” during remarks about an alleged assassination scare earlier this year.
Vance jokes about empty White House
Questions surrounding the relationship between Trump and his vice president resurfaced while Trump continued high-level meetings with Chinese president Xi Jinping overseas.
Back in Washington, Vance appeared at a press conference promoting a new anti-fraud task force. Reporters quickly steered the conversation toward Trump’s recent comments about the vice president being physically lifted out of his chair by Secret Service agents during the April security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Trump had joked that Vance was carried away “like he was a little boy” while agents reacted to the situation.
Vance did not directly criticize the remark. Instead, he answered questions with a mix of sarcasm and self-deprecating humor.
“I walk into the White House, and it’s very quiet, and no one’s there, and it takes me a second to realize exactly what’s going on!” Vance said during the press conference, comparing the situation to the movie Home Alone, according to JD Vance.
Succession talk follows Trump overseas
Reporters also pressed Vance about Trump repeatedly floating the names of both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as possible successors in future presidential races.
Trump recently teased the idea during remarks in the Rose Garden before leaving for China, openly asking supporters which candidate they preferred.
Political observers have increasingly noticed Trump’s tendency to turn succession speculation into a public guessing game, something Vance appeared happy to joke about rather than seriously engage with.
Trump comparisons keep resurfacing
Vance referenced Trump’s history as a reality television star when responding to questions about whether the president enjoys creating rivalry narratives around his inner circle.
“But no, look, I think the president, he’s always been fascinated by politics. If you talk to him, he was fascinated by politics 30 years before he ever ran for office,” Vance said during the exchange, according to JD Vance.
Despite the humor, the comments once again highlighted how Trump’s public style often spills into the relationships surrounding his administration.
Meanwhile, Trump’s China visit continues drawing global attention as discussions with Xi Jinping focus on Taiwan, trade and broader tensions between Washington and Beijing.
