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| Vice presidency of JD Vance January 20, 2025 – present | |
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| Cabinet | See list |
| Party | Republican |
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| Seat | Number One Observatory Circle |
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Personal
50th Vice President of the United States Vice presidential campaign   | ||
JD Vance is serving as the 50thvice president of the United States during thesecond presidency of Donald Trump since January 20, 2025. Vance, a member of theRepublican Party whopreviously served as aU.S. senator representingOhio from 2023 to 2025, wasselected as former president Trump's running mate and took office following their victory in the2024 presidential election overDemocratic nomineesKamala Harris andTim Walz. He is the firstMillennial to hold the office and the first vice president to have served in theU.S. Marine Corps.
Vance is the youngest person elected to the office sinceRichard Nixon in1952, as well as thethird-youngest vice president in U.S. history. He is the secondCatholic to hold the position, afterJoe Biden, and has the leastprevious political experience of any vice president, serving two years and seven days in office assenator from Ohio before assuming the vice presidency. During his tenure, Vance has also served as the finance chair of theRepublican National Committee. As of late 2024, he was considered poised to become the most powerful U.S. vice president sinceDick Cheney.
Alongside Vance's vice presidency, the Republican Party also holds their majorities in theHouse of Representatives and theSenate during the119th U.S. Congress following the2024 elections, attains an overall federalgovernment trifecta.
On January 31, 2023, Vance endorsed former president Donald Trump in the2024 Republican Party presidential primaries.[1][2] On July 15, 2024, the first day of theRepublican National Convention, Trump announced onTruth Social that he had chosen Vance as his running mate.[3] On July 17, Vance accepted the Republican nomination for vice president, at age 39.[4]
Trump's two eldest sons,Donald Trump Jr. andEric Trump, advocated for their father to choose Vance. Several media and industry figures are said to have lobbied for Vance to be on the presidential ticket, includingElon Musk,David O. Sacks,Tucker Carlson, andPeter Thiel, who first introduced Trump to Vance in 2021.[5][6]The Heritage Foundation, which draftedProject 2025, privately advocated for Vance to be Trump's vice-presidential pick.[7] Musk responded to Trump's vice-presidential pick hours after its announcement, saying the ticket "resounds with victory". David Sacks, a prominent GOP donor and Silicon Valley venture capitalist, wrote on Twitter: "This is who I want by Trump's side: an American patriot." In 2022, Sacks gave asuper PAC supporting Vance's Senate campaign $900,000, and Peter Thiel added $15 million.[8] It was initially reported that Elon Musk would contribute $45 million monthly to the Trump-Vance campaign,[9] but Musk later said he planned to donate "much lower amounts".[10][11]
On May 15, 2024, Trump attended a $50,000 per head private fundraising dinner with Vance inCincinnati.[12] Guests includedChris Bortz and Republican fundraiserNate Morris.[13] Vance appeared at significant conservative political events and in June was described as a potential running mate for Trump.[14][15] In July, a former friend of Vance's from Yale Law School exposed to the media communications between them and Vance from 2014 to 2017, with the friend alleging that Vance has "changed [his] opinion on literally every imaginable issue that affects everyday Americans" in pursuit of "political power and wealth".[16][17]
In late July 2024, after PresidentJoe Bidenwithdrew his candidacy forreelection and Vice PresidentKamala Harris became apresidential candidate, Vance said at a private fundraiser that the "bad news is that Kamala Harris does not have the same baggage as Joe Biden ... Kamala Harris is obviously not struggling in the same ways that Joe Biden did"; a day later, Vance told the media: "I don't think the political calculus changes at all" whether Harris or Biden was the Democratic nominee.[18] Following criticism of his past remarks and political positions, Vance said in an August 2024 interview that a vice president "doesn't really matter" and that "Kamala Harris has been a bad vice president".[19] This came after Trump said that the "vice president, in terms of the election, does not have any impact".[19] In late August, after the Trump campaign was embroiled in controversy for allegedly bringing cameras into a restricted area ofArlington National Cemetery during Trump's visit there, Vance first said that Harris "can go to hell" because "she wants to yell at Donald Trump because he showed up", and then said "Don't do this fake outrage thing". At the time of his comments, Harris had not publicly discussed theincident.[20][21][22]
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In August 2024, Vance said that Trump "said that explicitly that he would" veto a national abortion ban.[23] In September 2024, during his debate with Harris, Trump was asked about Vance's statement about the veto, and responded: "I didn't discuss it with JD ... I think he was speaking for me—but I really didn't."[24][25]
In late September 2024, Vance spoke at a western Pennsylvania town hall event organized byLance Wallnau, who has promotedelection denialism and called Kamala Harris a "demon".[26][27][28] In October 2024, Vance said he did not believe Trump lost the2020 presidential election and that he believed "Big Tech rigged the election" through censorship.[29]
Shortly after being named Trump's running mate, Vance was criticized for saying in a 2021Fox News interview, "we are effectively run in this country via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childlesscat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too."[30] The resurfaced comments, which were posted byMeidasTouch editor-in-chiefRon Filipkowski, sparked an immediate backlash across news and social media.[31][32] On July 26, 2024, Vance clarified his remarks onThe Megyn Kelly Show, saying, "It's not a criticism of people who don't have children" and "this is about criticizing the Democratic Party for becoming anti-family and anti-child".[33] He has said that being "pro-babies and pro-family" should be the Republican Party's highest priority.[34]
After backlash to the Fox News interview, additional comments that Vance had made in interviews about childless people resurfaced. In a 2020 podcast interview, he said that being childless "makes people more sociopathic and ultimately our whole country a little bit less, less mentally stable".[35] Vance's campaign referred to "radical childless leaders in this country" in a fundraising email sent after his appearance onTucker Carlson Tonight. CNN found multiple examples of Vance making similarly disparaging remarks about childless people, primarily Democratic officials.[36] In a 2021 speech at aCenter for Christian Virtue leadership meeting, Vance said that childless teachers were "trying to brainwash the minds of our children" and criticizedAmerican Federation of Teachers PresidentRandi Weingarten, saying: "If she wants to brainwash and destroy the minds of children, she should have some of her own and leave ours the hell alone."[37] He also suggested in a March 2021 interview onThe Charlie Kirk Show that childless people should be taxed at a higher rate than those with children, adding that the U.S. should "reward the things that we think are good" and "punish the things that we think are bad".[38] In an August 2024 interview onFace the Nation, Vance said he supported increasing thechild tax credit from $2,000 per child to $5,000 per child, even though his Senate Republican colleagues had blocked an expanded child tax credit two weeks earlier while he was absent for the vote, having called it a "show vote" and saying it would not have passed even if he had been present.[39][40]
In September 2024, Vance made allegations of "Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all overSpringfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country". Trump subsequently echoed the allegations, including duringa presidential debate. Springfield authorities said there were "no credible reports or specific claims" of such incidents and that "Haitian immigrants are here legally".[41][42] Vance then said that it was "possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false", but also told his supporters to "keep the cat memes flowing".[43] He then promoted conservative activistChristopher Rufo's allegation that African migrants were eating cats inDayton, Ohio; Dayton authorities reported "no evidence to even remotely suggest that any group, including our immigrant community, is engaged in eating pets".[44][45]
After Vance's claim about Haitians eating pets was disputed, he said: "Do you know what's confirmed? That a child was murdered by a Haitian migrant who had no right to be here"; the child had actually died in an accidental collision between vehicles in Springfield, and the child's father criticized Vance for using the child's "death for political gain".[46][47] Vance also alleged a "massive rise in communicable diseases" in Springfield, butClark County's health commissioner reported having "not seen a substantial increase in all reportable communicable diseases".[48] After Vance's and Trump's allegations, Springfield experienced multiplebomb threats in September. Vance denounced "violence or the threat of violence levied against Springfield", but continued his allegations against immigrants there.[49] He defended his claims about Haitian migrants eating cats, saying that he was willing "to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention ... we're creating a story, meaning we're creating the American media focusing on it."[50]
The vice presidential debate was held on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 9:00 p.m. EDT at theCBS Broadcast Center in New York City.[51]
CBS stated in late September that the moderators would not fact-check the candidates during the debate, with fact-checking instead handled online and on-air only after the debate.[52] When Vance was fact checked on the status ofHaitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, he objected saying, "The rules were that you were not going to fact check", and argued that the immigrants should not be considered legal because the federal government decided their protected status after they had arrived in the United States.[53] Walz rejected Vance's argument, and the microphones were muted as Vance continued speaking.[54]
Nielsen Media Research reported that 43 million viewers across CBS and 15 other television networks watched the debate, down from 57 million viewers during the 2020 vice presidential debate.[55].jpg)
In July 2024, a CNN poll analysis after the Republican National Convention showed a net-negative approval rating for Vance.[56] That week, Vance's middling public reception and other concerns led some prominent Republican politicians and political analysts to say that he may have been a poor choice of running mate, especially in light of the shift in the election's dynamics uponthe withdrawal of President Biden from the election and advent ofKamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.[57]
After the October 2024 vice-presidential debate, A CBS News/YouGov poll of 1,630 likely debate viewers found Vance's favorability rose from 40% to 49%, while Walz's increased from 52% to 60%. Both candidates' unfavorability ratings also declined, with Vance's dropping from 54% to 47% and Walz's falling from 41% to 35%. The poll had a margin of error of 2.7 points.[58]
As of February 20, 2025, according toFiveThirtyEight, Vance's overall favorability was 40.7% and his unfavorability was 42.5%.[59]
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The transition period began following Vance's victory in the election. Vance, along withDonald Trump Jr.,Eric Trump,Tulsi Gabbard, andRobert F. Kennedy Jr. were designated as honorary co-chairs of thesecond presidential transition of Donald Trump.[60]
On December 5, Vance and his wife traveled toWestern North Carolina to survey storm wreckage fromHurricane Helene and to thank first responders, alongsideU.S. senatorsThom Tillis andShelley Moore Capito.[61][62]
On December 7, Vance met withUK Leader of the OppositionKemi Badenoch in Washington, DC to discussUS–UK relations.[63][64]
On December 12, Vance appeared alongside Trump,Melania Trump,Ivanka Trump, and others to ring theopening bell at theNew York Stock Exchange.[65]
On December 14, 2024, Vance attended the 2024Army–Navy Game, alongside Trump,Elon Musk,Daniel Penny,Pete Hegseth, andRon DeSantis.[66]
Vance and his family spent New Year's Eve atMar-a-Lago, alongside theTrump family,Elon Musk,SenatorTed Cruz,CongressmanMichael Waltz,Alina Habba,Don King,Roger Stone, andMiriam Adelson.[67][68]
On January 3, 2025, Vance attended the swearing-in ceremony ofBernie Moreno andDave McCormick.
On January 9, Vance attended thefuneral of Jimmy Carter, alongside the current and living former vice presidents.[69]
On January 19, Vance and Trump attended awreath laying ceremony at theTomb of the Unknown Soldier atArlington National Cemetery.[70]
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On the morning of his inauguration, Vance held a meeting with China's vice presidentHan Zheng in which they discussedChina–United States relations.[71]
On January 20, 2025, Vance was inaugurated as the 50th vice president of the United States.[72][73] Later that night, he attended multipleinaugural balls in Washington, DC.
On December 17, 2024, leadership from the two parties reached an agreement on further short-term government expenditures, unveiling a bill that would have extended the previous continuing resolution's deadline to March 14, 2025, while also funding and renewing several federal programs.[74]
On December 18, President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance issued a joint statement demanding the removal of additional spending (except for disaster relief and aid to farmers) and the suspension of the debt ceiling (due to be reached in 2025).[75][76][77]
Republicans quickly remodeled the bill to that effect and put it up for a vote, but not to avail: the House rejected the proposal by a vote of 174 to 235, with all but three Democrats joining 38 conservative Republicans, in voting against it. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized Republicans for abandoning the bipartisan deal at the very last moment. At the same time, conservative Republicans lamented the presence of new spending and the rise in the debt ceiling.[78]
One day after the rejection of the second bill, Republicans released a third remodeled bill essentially the same as the second but without the suspension of the debt ceiling as proposed by Trump and Vance.[79] Republicans also announced that has reached a handshake agreement with President-elect Trump to cut $2.5 trillion in government spending in exchange for a $1.5 trillion debt ceiling hike. The agreement was not part of the third proposal and was not voted on by the House.[80]
The bill was passed in a 366–34 vote, with one member voting present. All but one Democrat voted for the bill, while 34 Republicans voted against it.[79][81]
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At noon on January 20, 2025, Vance became the 50th vice president of the United States, sworn into the office by JusticeBrett Kavanaugh.[82] Before his inauguration, he held a meeting with China's vice presidentHan Zheng in which they discussedChina–United States relations.[83] Vance is thethird-youngest person to serve as vice president, thesecond Catholic vice president after Joe Biden, and the first from theMillennial generation. He is also the first Marine Corps veteran and the first former U.S. senator from Ohio to serve as vice president.[84] Vance is the first formersenior U.S. senator to serve as vice president since Joe Biden and the second sinceWalter Mondale. Political observers have expected Vance to be the second-most powerful vice president in U.S. history, afterDick Cheney.[85][86][87]
On January 21, among Vance's first acts as vice president was swearing inMarco Rubio, the firstHispanic American Secretary of State and the first of Trump's cabinet nominees to be approved by Congress.[88]
On January 24, Vance spoke to the crowd of the 2025March for Life, saying: "I want more babies in the United States of America."[89] That same day, he swore inJohn Ratcliffe asDirector of the CIA, the second of Trump's cabinet nominees to be confirmed by the Senate.[90][91] That evening, he cast thetie-breaking vote to confirmPete Hegseth asSecretary of Defense.[92][93]
On January 25, Vance swore in Hegseth as the 29th secretary of defense.[94] Later that same day, Vance was set to swear inKristi Noem asSecretary of Homeland Security at theEisenhower Executive Office Building, however, Noem was delayed due to a complication in the arrival of her late father’s Bible. After waiting for over half an hour, Vance left the building to maintain his schedule.[95]
On January 28, Vance traveled aboardAir Force Two toWashington County, Virginia to meet withHurricane Helene survivors alongsideGovernorGlenn Youngkin.[96][97]
In February 2025, after multiple federal judges issued temporary rulings against various Trump administration actions, Vance wrote, "judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power".[98]
On March 26, Vance visitedMarine Corps Base Quantico to commemorate the then-upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Marine Corps.[99][100] At the event, Vance spoke to Marines about the history of the Marine Corps, saying: "Two-hundred-fifty years of winning wars, 250 years of kicking ass and taking names".[99][101] He also participated in shooting aM27 Infantry automatic rifle,M240 machine gun,M107.50 caliber rifle, andM102 howitzer at the basefiring range.[101] While visiting the base, Vance wore a helmetpatch inscribed with "The Corporal of Marines" where the title "commander-in-chief" would appear on the U.S. president's patch.[100][101][102]
In March 2025, Vance became the first sitting U.S. vice president to visitGreenland, appearing at the United States'Pituffik Space Base.[103] Vance acknowledged that Trump wanted the United States to acquire Greenland, commenting: "We can't just ignore the president's desires", while warning that Greenland faced the "encroachment of powerful countries" China and Russia "as they expand their ambitions".[103][104] Vance explicitly declared in a "message toDenmark" that "you have not done a good job", as Vance criticized Denmark for having "underinvested in the security architecture" and "people of Greenland".[103]
In August 2025, Vance was criticized for a family kayaking trip. At the request of theU.S. Secret Service, water levels on theLittle Miami River were adjusted and the outflow ofCaesar Creek Lake was increased by theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers.[105]
In his February 2025 speech at theMunich Security Conference (MSC), citing in part what he said were examples in Romania, England, Scotland, and Germany, Vance called "the threat from within" his biggest concern in terms of security for Europe, "not Russia, not China".[106]
Several media outlets regarded the speech as a turning point inEuropean Union–United States relations along withUnited States PresidentDonald Trump'stelephone conversation withPresident of RussiaVladimir Putin. Some described it as a declaration of "ideological war"[107] and "culture war" against the United States' European allies, and a "wrecking ball" to the decades-long status quo of transatlantic relations.[108][109]
On February 28, 2025, Vance and Trump met the Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy in the White House's Oval Office in front of journalists in an internationally broadcast event.[110][111] During the meeting, Vance was mostly quiet during the first 40 minutes, but then interjected to answer a question about Trump's relationship with Russian PresidentVladimir Putin.[110][112] Vance told Zelenskyy: "The path to peace and the path to prosperity is maybe engaging in diplomacy … What makes America a good country is America engaging in diplomacy. That’s what President Trump is doing."[112] Zelenskyy responded that Putin had not abided by a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Ukraine, and asked Vance, "What kind of diplomacy, J.D., you are speaking about?"[113]
The conversation became hostile; Vance replied that he was discussing "diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of" Ukraine, telling Zeleknskyy: "it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media … you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict".[111][112] Zelenskyy asked whether Vance had ever visited Ukraine; Vance replied that had "watched and seen the stories" about Ukraine, accusing Zelenskyy of showing a "propaganda tour" of Ukraine.[111][114] He asked whether Zelenskyy had ever offered thanks, despite Zelenskyy starting the conversation by saying "Thank you so much" to Trump.[115] Vance falsely said Zelenskyy "went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October" 2024; Zelenskyy had actually visited a factory to thank workers producing ammunition for Ukraine,[116] though the timing of the visit and separately calling Vance "too radical" raised suspicion among Republicans.[117] After the meeting, Zelenskyy and his delegation were made to leave the White House, canceling the original plan to sign a minerals deal between Ukraine and the U.S.[112]
Vance’s speeches during his term as VP have largely followed the theme of the administration’s populist core messaging, however he’s also shown awareness of deeper concepts of political theory such as theoverton window several times. Vance’s speech on economics at the American Compass 5th anniversary gala, a conservative think tank, is one example of statements made by the VP where he has shown a deep grasp of one particular issue beyond the populist messaging commonly used by President Trump.[118]
During the2024 United States vice presidential debate, Vance declared thatabortion should be delegated to states.[119] He was previously in-favor of a nationwideabortion ban; however, he later stated that he "never supported a national ban".[120] Vance has supported Trump's decision toveto a potential federal abortion ban.[121]
On his first day in office, Vance stood beside Trump when he signedExecutive Order 14162;withdrawing the U.S. from theParis Agreement. He supported Trump's pause on disbursement of climate-related funds issued by theIRA andBIL.[122]
Vance's economic views have been described as "economic populism" and sometimes "economic nationalism".[123][124]
During their2024 campaign, Trump and Vance promised to impose highertariffs on imports from all countries, particularlyChina.[125]
On February 1, 2025, Trump and Vance followed through on their intentions and imposed a25% tariff on all goods from Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff on China.[126] A lower 10% tariff was announced for all energy exports from Canada, including electricity, natural gas, and oil. Trump's trade advisor,Peter Navarro, stated that the lower rate for energy was intended to "minimize any disruptive effects".[127] The tariffs are due to come into effect on February 4. In response, representatives from Mexico and Canada announced intentions to impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States. The orders signed by Trump reportedly include a clause allowing for an increase in tariff rates if such retaliatory tariffs are implemented.[128][129]
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Vance has supported Trump'sproposal for a wall along the southern border and rejected the idea that supporters of the wall are racist. He has proposed spending $3 billion to finish the wall.[130][131]
Vance co-sponsored theLaken Riley Act, signed into law by Trump on January 29, 2025, the first legislation of Vance's term.[132][133]
Just before Trump's second inauguration, Vice President Vance andElon Musk each held separate meetings with China's vice presidentHan Zheng, who was in Washington attending the event as China'sparamount leaderXi Jinping's special representative.[134] Han's presence at the event was seen by commentators as representative of Xi's interest in strengtheningChina–United States relations under Trump's tenure.[135][136]
Vance in April 2025 criticized the "globalist economy" for causing the United States to "borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture"; this comment sparked condemnation from the Chinese government and the Chinese Internet sphere.[137]
On February 11, 2025, Vance met withIndian prime ministerNarendra Modi inParis, France to discuss the diversification of theIndian energy sector through investments inU.S. nuclear technology.[138]
In his second official foreign trip as vice president, Vance travelled to India, alongside hisIndian-origin wife,Usha.[139]
In an October 2024 interview, Vance said: "Israel has the right to defend itself, but America's interest is sometimes going to be distinct. Sometimes we're going to have overlapping interests and sometimes we're going to have distinct interests. And our interest, I think, very much is in not going to war with Iran."[140]
In February 2025,Israeli prime ministerBenjamin Netanyahu visited the United States and met with Vance andMike Waltz in theBlair House to discussUS–Israeli relations and the ongoingMiddle Eastern crisis.[141][142]
In April 2025, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the United States and met with Trump and Vance to discussreciprocal tariffs and the ongoingGaza war hostage crisis.[143][144]
In October 2025, theKnesset passed a bill that would extendIsraeli sovereignty to allIsraeli settlements in the West Bank.[145] The bill was condemned by JD Vance as a "very stupid political stunt".[146]
In March 2025, theUnited Arab Emirates sent a diplomatic delegation to the United States to investUS$1.4 trillion in theU.S. economy over the next 10 years. The agreement was reached by SheikhTahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan after a meeting with Trump and a dinner with Vance.[147][148]
Theproposed United States acquisition of Greenland and criticism of Denmark's management of its territory by the Trump administration have been received poorly by theDanish government, saying: "we are open to criticism, but... we do not appreciate the tone".[149]
In a February 2025 interview withMaria Bartiromo, Vance stated that Denmark was "not being a good ally" and declared that "the U.S. does not care what the EU screams at them" regarding Greenland.[150]
During Vance's trip to Greenland, anon-sovereign country within theDanish Realm, Vance explicitly declared in a "message to Denmark" that "you have not done a good job", as Vance criticized Denmark for having "underinvested in the security architecture" and "people of Greenland".[103]
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Inhis speech to the61st Munich Security Conference, Vance addressed several aspects of US–EU relations, includingdefense spending and security cooperation. While affirming the Trump administration's commitment to European security, Vance emphasized the need for increased European defense contributions. He specifically mentioned the possibility of a "reasonable settlement" betweenUkraine andRussia. He also criticized European rhetoric of framing the conflict betweenRussia andUkraine as a "defense of democracy" in contrast to his earlier examples of alleged infringements of democratic principles in Europe.[151]
In February 2025, Vance met withGerman chancellorOlaf Scholz inParis.[152]
During the Munich Security Conference, Vance held a bilateral meeting withGerman presidentFrank-Walter Steinmeier. At the start of the meeting, Vance commented on the2025 Munich car attack, saying: "I wanted, given the attacks yesterday, to offer my condolences from my wife and I" and "Munich is a beautiful city that we've actually visited before, both on work but also on vacation. So very sad for what's happened. And we wish everybody the best as you recover and try to care for the victims and their families".[153][154]
During the conference, Vance also met withBundestag member andAfD leaderAlice Weidel nine days before the2025 German federal election.[155][156] He also met withLeader of the Opposition andLeader of the Christian Democratic UnionFriedrich Merz.[152]
In March 2025,TaoiseachMicheál Martin visited the United States for the annualSt. Patrick's Day celebration at theWhite House.[157] Prior to the celebration, Vance and Martin met for breakfast at theNaval Observatory. During the meeting, Vance described the US–Irish relationship as "one of the great alliances".[158]
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On March 21, 2025, Vance held a brief phone call withLega leader andItalian Deputy Prime MinisterMatteo Salvini,[159] during which they talked aboutillegal immigration,Ukraine peace talks andsatellite technology.[citation needed]
On April 18, Vance met withItalian Prime MinisterGiorgia Meloni inRome, praising her conservative stances and her ideological and political affinity with the Trump administration.[160]
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On December 7, then-Vice President-elect Vance met withUK Leader of the OppositionKemi Badenoch in Washington, DC to discussUS–UK relations.[63][64]
On February 14, 2025, Vance met withUK foreign secretaryDavid Lammy inMunich, Germany to discuss US–UK relations.[161] Lammy spoke to the press about his relationship with Vance, saying: "I’ve met him on a few occasions and we have been able to find common ground and get on."[162]
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Vance has stated that he does not wantRussia to conquer Ukraine, but supports a "freeze" of "the territorial lines somewhere close to where they are right now".[163] He also supports theexclusion of Ukraine from NATO and providing "some American security assistance over the long term."[164]
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In an October 2024 interview withKristen Welker, Vance said the U.S. would "remain inNATO", but claimedNATO member countries were not spending enough for their own security.[165]
In February 2025, Vance met withSecretary GeneralMark Rutte followinghis speech at the Munich Security Conference. Rutte spoke to the press about Vance's speech, saying Vance was "absolutely right" about the need for European nations to increase their defense spending, adding: "we have to grow up in that sense and spend much more".[153][166]
In March 2025, Secretary General Rutte traveled to the United States to participate in abilateral meeting with Vance, Trump,Pete Hegseth,Mike Waltz,Michael Needham,Keith Kellogg, andMatthew Whitaker in theOval Office.[167][168]
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In the lead-up to his second inauguration, Vance supported Trump's proposed plans and ideas that would expand the United States' political influence and territory.[169][170] Thelast territory acquired by the United States was in 1947 when theMariana,Caroline, andMarshall Islands were acquired.
In December 2024, Trump stated a furtherproposal for the United States to purchase Greenland from Denmark, describing ownership and control of the island as "an absolute necessity" for national security purposes. This builds upon a prior offer from Trump to buy Greenland during his first term, which theDanish Realm refused, causing him to cancel his August 2019 visit to Denmark.[171]
Vance has repeatedly stated that controlling Greenland is critical forU.S. national security and said there's "a deal to be made in Greenland".[170]
In March 2025, Vance became the first sitting U.S. vice president to visit Greenland, appearing atPituffik Space Base.[103]
In 2024, Trump demanded thatPanama return control of thePanama Canal to the United States due to 'excessive rates' being charged for American passage.[172] If the United States were to take control of the Panama Canal, it would mark the first time the United States controlled Panamanian territory since the 1989United States invasion of Panama.[173]
In March 2025, Vance stood behind Trump ashe told Congress that his "administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal."[174] Also that month, Defense secretary Pete Hegseth instructed the Trump administration to "immediately" present "credible military options to ensure fair and unfettered US military and commercial access to the Panama Canal".[175]
On April 19, 2025, Vance, who converted toCatholicism in 2019, met withHoly See Secretary of StatePietro Parolin inVatican City. During the meeting, Vance reiterated the Trump administration's strong support forfreedom of religion andfreedom of conscience; the discussion also touched upon "countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners", according to a statement by the Holy See. Vance had previously expressed disagreement withPope Francis over the latter's strong support for immigrants' rights.[176][177]
On April 20,Easter Sunday, Vance had a brief meeting with Pope Francis.[178] Vance was the last public official to meet Pope Francis right beforehis death the very next morning on April 21.[179][180] He returned to the Vatican on May 18, 2025, to attend the inauguration of Francis' successor,Pope Leo XIV, and met with him in a private audience the following day.[181] The two exchanged gifts per tradition and Vance delivered a letter from President Trump and Melania Trump inviting Pope Leo to visit Washington soon.[182]
| Country | Area(s) visited | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 France | Paris,Barbizon | February 10–13 | AttendedAI Action Summit at theGrand Palais. Was hosted by PresidentEmmanuel Macron at theElysee Palace. Met with Indian Prime MinisterNarendra Modi to discuss energy diversification. Visited theforest of Fontainebleau andSeine-et-Marne.[183][184][185] |
 Germany | Munich | February 13–15 | Attended the61st Munich Security Conference[186][187][188] |
 Greenland | Pituffik | March 28–29 | VisitedPituffik Space Base[189][190] |
 Italy | Rome | April 18–20 | Met Prime MinisterGiorgia Meloni[191] |
 Vatican City | Vatican City | April 18–20 | Attended anEaster church service.[191] Briefly metPope Francis.[192] |
 India | New Delhi,Jaipur | April 21–24 | Met Prime MinisterNarendra Modi[193] |
| Italy | Rome | May 18 | Met with European Commission PresidentUrsula von der Leyen, Italian Prime MinisterGiorgia Meloni and Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy.[194] |
| Vatican City | Vatican City | May 18–19 | Attended inauguration mass and met withPope Leo XIV[181] |
 United Kingdom | Cotswolds,Kilmarnock | August 8–17 | Private trip. Vacationed with his family in the Cotswolds and Scotland. Addressed U.S. troops atRAF Fairford. Met Foreign SecretaryDavid Lammy, Conservative MPsRobert Jenrick andChris Philp as well asReform UK leaderNigel Farage.[195] |
 Israel | Jerusalem,Tel Aviv | October 21–23 | Vice President Vance and Second LadyUsha Vance visited Israel to support the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire. He met with U.S. envoysSteve Witkoff andJared Kushner atBen Gurion Airport, Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu, PresidentIsaac Herzog, and families of hostages. He also visited theChurch of the Holy Sepulchre and observed Gaza from theHaKirya in Tel Aviv.[196][197][198][199] |
As President of the Senate, Vance has cast seventie-breaking votes: the first to confirmPete Hegseth to beSecretary of Defense, the second to table a joint resolution terminating the national emergency declared to impose global tariffs, the next three to amend and pass theOne Big Beautiful Bill Act, and two to ensure the advancement of theRescissions Act of 2025.
| Date | Action | Vote | Ultimate result |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2025 | PN11-7 (Nomination ofPeter Hegseth, ofTennessee, to beSecretary of Defense) | Yea: 51–50 | Nomination confirmed. |
| April 30, 2025 | Motion to tableS.J.Res.49 (A joint resolution terminating the national emergency declared to impose global tariffs.) | Yea: 50–49 | Motion tabled.[200] |
| July 1, 2025 | S.Amdt. 2848 toS.Amdt. 2360 toH.R. 1, theOne Big Beautiful Bill Act | Yea: 51–50 | Amendment agreed to. |
| S.Amdt. 2360 toH.R. 1, theOne Big Beautiful Bill Act | Yea: 51–50 | Amendment agreed to, as amended. | |
| H.R. 1, theOne Big Beautiful Bill Act | Yea: 51–50 | H.R. 1 passed, as amended. | |
| July 15, 2025 | Motion to dischargeH.R. 4, theRescissions Act of 2025 | Yea: 51–50 | Motion agreed to. |
| Motion to proceed toH.R. 4, theRescissions Act of 2025 | Yea: 51–50 | Motion agreed to. |
| Senate leaders | House leaders | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congress | Year | Majority | Minority | Speaker | Minority |
| 119th | 2025–present | Thune | Schumer | Johnson | Jeffries |
| Congress | Senate | House |
|---|---|---|
| 119th[a] | 53 | 220 |
'I'm a 'never Trump' guy. I never liked him' and 'My god what an idiot' and 'I find him reprehensible' and 'I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical asshole... or that he's America's Hitler'
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