JD Vance takes over the White House briefing podium as Iran war drags on

After 42 days without a White House press briefing, JD Vance stepped behind the podium to assure Americans that everything was “totally and completely fine.” It was an awkward assignment. The administration’s war with Iran, initially described as a “very fast,” “two- to three-week” operation, was still grinding on after more than six months and had already cost Americans tens of billions of dollars.

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totally and completely fine

Vance’s appearance lasted an hour, although he arrived 45 minutes late. Karoline Leavitt had briefly returned from maternity leave before leaving the podium permanently, creating the opening for a different kind of briefing from the vice president. He began in a brisk, businesslike manner, discussing Venezuelan oil and the second lady’s summer reading challenge before praising the administration as “the most transparent admin in history.”

Reporters quickly turned to high prices, inflation and the economy. Asked why Republicans should not be blamed, Vance said inflation became “endemic” under the Biden administration. He then said, “I don’t really care who’s to blame for it,” arguing that his priority was fixing the problem. At the same time, he described the economy as “fantastic” because factories were being built across the country, while acknowledging that construction takes time and promising that a Golden Age was near.

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the most transparent admin in history

His message about Democrats was less a promise of relief than a warning of something worse. “Every inflation problem you’re worrying about today, they’re gonna make worse,” Vance said. The article presents that argument as the administration’s basic pitch: conditions are bad, but they could become worse under the opposition.

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I don’t really care who’s to blame for it

Vance also offered an unusual explanation for his recent weight loss. He said he sought advice from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during Lent and was told to eat plenty of sauerkraut. Calling himself “a devout Christian,” he said Lent required “some kind of self-denial.” He then denied that Trump caused problems in the Strait of Hormuz, denied that an energy crisis existed and even denied that the Iran conflict was a war.

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Every inflation problem you’re worrying about today, they’re gonna make worse