Vice President J.D. Vance was “absolutely embarrassed” by CBS News' Margaret Brennan during an interview in which he tried to press her on immigration, national security and the economy, Republican lawmakers and strategists said after the discussion went viral. Ta.
in an episode of Standing up to the nation with Margaret Brennan On the show, which aired Sunday, Vance deftly countered her claim that all people who entered the United States as “refugees” under former President Joe Biden were properly “vetted.”
“I want to ask you about the refugee admissions that were just suspended by the president… It takes 18 to 24 months to vet refugees. They are vetted,” Brennan said. cancel Number of refugee flights This was accomplished by one of President Donald Trump's executive orders last week.
“When you spoke to us in August, you said, 'I don't think we should abandon the people who helped us by getting the proper testing,'” the CBS anchor said. . “Do you support it?”
Vance quickly responded, saying, “I disagree that all these immigrants and refugees are being properly vetted.”
Then he brought out Nasir Ahmad TawhidiThe 27-year-old Afghan man entered the United States on a “special immigrant visa” shortly after the Biden-Harris administration's failed military withdrawal from Afghanistan led to the Taliban takeover of the country.
After obtaining a special visa to flee to the United States, Tawhidi, who had been living in Oklahoma, allegedly conspired in the United States to provide material support to ISIS and obtained firearms and ammunition to carry out violent attacks. obtained,” federal prosecutors said in a statement. announced In October 2024.
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The attack was scheduled to take place on Election Day, according to a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release.
Tauhedi was charged with “conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS” and “receiving a firearm for use in the commission of a felony or federal crime of terrorism.” If convicted, he could face decades in prison.
“We know that there have been cases where people who supposedly had proper testing were literally planning terrorist attacks in our country. As you may remember, that happened during the campaign,” Vance said. Obviously, not all of these foreigners have been properly tested.”
Mr. Brennan interrupted the vice president and said, “No, but there are 30,000 Afghan refugees stuck there. Do you support that—”
The two continued to communicate, but Vance reinforced his opinion that not all refugees are “properly vetted.”
“These people are being vetted,” Brennan insisted, to which Vance responded, “Is this the same guy who planned the terrorist attack in Oklahoma a few months ago?”
“He was said to have been properly vetted, and a lot of people in the media and in the Democratic Party said he was properly vetted. Obviously, he wasn't,” the vice president said.
“I don't want my children to share neighborhoods with people who haven't been properly tested, and I don't want that for my children, so I don't want it for the children of other American citizens. “I'm not going to force it,” he continued.
Brennan tried to dismiss Vance's case as a “very unique case” in which Tawhidi may have been “radicalized” after immigrating to the United States, but Vance again silenced her.
“I don't care about that, Margaret. I don't want that person in my country, and I think most Americans agree with me,” he clarified.
Republican strategist Andrew Slavian said Vance “completely embarrassed” the CBS host.
“When will these left-wing media hacks realize they are no match for JD?” Donald Trump Jr. asked in response to a video interview.
Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) called on CBS and Brennan with a series of questions for the vice president.
“It's great to see @JDVance VP putting out common sense, but why does the Democratic media always seem to care more about the plight of illegal aliens than the American people? If your worldview leads you to finding excuses for unvetted immigrant terrorists, maybe it's time to rethink things,” said Banks, who just joined the Senate this month. I wrote it.
Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) seemed to agree, saying that he “loves” to see Vance “fighting with the media,” but that Brennan “has a straight face and says the Biden administration has done a good job.” I can't believe he's making that claim.” “Refugee testing”:
Sheehy, who also took office this month, added: “The Afghanistan withdrawal was a complete mess because of Mr. Biden's incompetence.”
Nate Morris, a rumored Republican candidate for the Kentucky Senate, chimed in to support Vance's claims.
“We need to put America first, and that means stopping the flood of unvetted immigrants into our country and deporting all the illegal immigrants who are here today,” Morris recently said. spoke. slammed Incumbent Senator Mitch McConnell (Republican, Kentucky) vote against of confirmation Remarks from new Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
“There are no exceptions. There are no carve-outs. Zero tolerance,” added Lexington-based entrepreneur Morris.
When Brennan asserted that “this country was founded by immigrants,'' Vance countered, “240 years later, that doesn't mean we still have to have the stupidest immigration policy in the world.''
“This is a very unique country, founded by some immigrants and some settlers. But just because it was founded by immigrants doesn't mean it still has some of the stupidest immigration policies in the world 240 years later. It doesn't have to be,” the vice president said. “No country can say that temporary visitors, their children, can enjoy the full benefits and blessings of American citizenship.”
Vance is also a Catholic, called outside Recent U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops statement in opposition to the Trump administration's recent policies. action Repeal policies that prevent immigration enforcement agents from making arrests at churches and schools.
“The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has actually taken a moment to take a look in the mirror and realize that it is concerned about humanitarian concerns when it receives over $100 million to assist in the resettlement of illegal immigrants. I think there is a need. Are they actually concerned about the bottom line?'' Vance asked. “We're going to enforce our immigration laws and protect the American people.”
When Brennan asked Vance how Hegseth, who was confirmed by the Senate on a narrow 51-50 vote, would lead the Department of Defense (DOD), Vance said he expected much-needed “change” in the military. He said it would come true.
I think Pete is a destroyer, and a lot of people don't like that destruction, but Margaret, that destruction is incredibly necessary. When we think about all of these huge bipartisan votes, we have to ask ourselves what they got us. They gave us a country that has fought many wars over the past 40 years, but has never won a war in my lifetime. They have given our military a massive recruiting crisis, a completely dysfunctional procurement price crisis, bought planes for billions of dollars, had gross cost overruns, and consistently delayed deliveries. Therefore, major changes are needed. Sure, some people don't like that big change, but it's necessary and it's clearly what Donald J. Trump stood for and why the American people elected him as the 47th president. I think that's part of it.
On when Americans will feel the effects of Trump-Vance's economic policies at the grocery store, the vice president argued that farmers need “lower energy prices” to lower the cost of groceries.
“When will consumers actually touch these things and feel a difference in their lives?” asked Brennan.
“Well, Margaret, how does bacon get to the grocery store? It's on a truck that runs on diesel fuel,” Vance explained. “If diesel is too expensive, bacon will be even more expensive. How do we grow bacon? Our farmers need energy to produce it.”
“So if you lower energy prices, you lower prices for consumers, and that's what we're trying to fight for,” he added.
Brennan continued to press Trump's other Cabinet nominee, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) nominee Tulsi Gabbard, citing a National Review article. strict attitude against her.
National Review called the former Hawaii congresswoman “a diabolical candidate who deserves to be defeated” in an article titled “No to Tulsi Gabbard” published by conservative media editors on Friday. .
“Would these things stop you from appointing her to head the U.S. intelligence community? Yes or no?” Brennan asked.
Vance said, “No, Margaret, look, these are publications that relentlessly attacked Donald J. Trump, but those publications don't decide the president, the American people do.'' answered.
“Donald J. Trump is the one who decides who his Cabinet is, not these publications that I think have frankly lost their relevance,” the former Ohio senator added. , later praised Gabbard's military service and accomplishments.
Well, the Senate will give its advice and consent as it is constitutionally obligated to do, but I'm confident that Tulsi Gabbard will ultimately pass. There are two important things to know about Tulsi. First of all, she is a career military officer who has served at the highest level of rank for nearly 20 years. She has an impeccable character, an impeccable service record, and is someone who I think will restore some credibility to the intelligence community. Our intelligence bureaucracies are completely out of control. They have been part of the weaponization of our political system, the weaponization of our judicial system. We need good intelligence agencies to keep us safe, and part of that is restoring trust in those agencies, and I think Tulsi is well-placed to do that.
Political commentator and Trump Hispanic Outreach Campaign Coordinator Steve Cortez praised Vance's ability to “deconstruct the false premises of corporate media accusations and execute them with a convincing calmness.” I did.
Former Florida Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler said Vance's media abilities should be used for “24/7 sit-down interviews explaining policy and White House actions,” while Trump is “on the go” and “on the road.” cuff interviews, large gatherings and events.'' “A Little Round Table of Failed State/Local Officials”:
Filmmaker Mike Cernovich called the CBS interview “embarrassing” and Human Events senior editor Jack Posobiec called Vance “48 years old” after Sunday's episode aired after Trump took office. I called it.
