U.S. Vice President JD Vance opposed the military operation against Iran from the outset, according to foreign media reports, as the conflict between the U.S.-Israel alliance and Iran intensifies into an exchange of blows.
The revelation sheds light on why Vance remained at the White House while President Donald Trump directed the airstrikes from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on April 28.
Politico reported on May 13 that Vance expressed opposition during preparations for "Operation Epic Fury," the U.S. military strike against Iran. A senior Trump administration official told Politico via text message that "the vice president is skeptical about the Iran operation" and "is concerned about success and simply opposes it."
Another senior official said Vance's role is "to provide the president and administration with all points of view that could arise from various angles," adding that "once a decision is made, he fully supports it."
Politico noted that the report "lifted the curtain on months of speculation that Vice President Vance is far more reluctant about military action than President Trump." The outlet added that "Vance's skepticism toward U.S. military intervention, shaped by his experience serving as a Marine in Iraq, has fueled talk of discord with President Trump."
Vance remained in the White House Situation Room in Washington, D.C., when U.S. airstrikes on Iran began on April 28. While Trump directed operations from Mar-a-Lago, the vice president was not present.
Two days before the Iran operation, Vance described himself as "a skeptic of foreign military intervention" in an interview with The Washington Post. Trump himself told reporters on May 9 that "the vice president was philosophically a little different from me."
Vance had also expressed reservations about earlier military actions. When the U.S. struck Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels last year, Vance wrote in a Signal chat group used by senior Trump administration security officials that he "thought the military attack was a mistake."
Following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June last year, Vance posted on X, formerly Twitter: "It's natural for people to worry about America getting entangled in foreign issues after 25 years of foolish foreign policy."
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly pushed back on reports of a rift, saying attempts to drive a wedge between Trump and Vance are "completely wrong." She added that "the president hears various opinions through his capable national security team and ultimately makes decisions based on what is best for our country and security."