WASHINGTON – Vice President JD Vance used a White House press briefing Tuesday to highlight the Trump administration’s fraud crackdown while also outlining the White House’s position on Iran, immigration, fentanyl, artificial intelligence and several other issues.
Vice President JD Vance joked during the White House press briefing that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt should replace him as Vice President when his wife, Usha, gives birth to their baby later this year, as he fills in for her while she is on maternity leave.
Vance said federal officials have identified “millions upon billions of dollars” in fraud across several major government systems, including hospice, Medicaid, Medicare, immigration and the Small Business Administration.
“The president wants us to prosecute the fraud,” Vance said, adding that the administration intends to save taxpayers “as much money as we possibly can.”
Vance said recent reviews have uncovered fraudulent loans and improper payments, arguing that the administration’s fraud task force is focused on identifying abuse and holding offenders accountable.
The vice president then turned to Iran, saying President Donald Trump remains committed to preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” Vance said, warning that a nuclear-armed Iran could trigger a broader arms race across the Middle East and beyond.
Vance said the administration has degraded Iran’s conventional military capabilities, but stressed that Trump has directed officials to continue negotiating in good faith. He pointed to recent talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, where he said American negotiators attempted to show “a sign of good faith” while making clear that Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain the red line.
According to Vance, the United States is willing to pursue a diplomatic reset with Iran after decades of hostility, but not at the expense of American security.
“We are not going to have a deal that allows the Iranians to have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
Vance said Trump told him shortly before the briefing that the administration is “locked and loaded” if negotiations fail, though he added that military escalation is not the preferred path.
The vice president also addressed immigration fraud, accusing the Biden administration of allowing the asylum and refugee process to become “totally fraudulent.” He said the Trump administration has worked to close loopholes and prosecute those who abused the system.
On fentanyl, Vance said deaths are declining under Trump’s border policies and credited the administration’s efforts to tighten control of the southern border. He said much of the fentanyl supply originated in East Asia before being moved through cartels and into the United States.
Vance also fielded questions about artificial intelligence, saying the administration is trying to balance innovation with public safety as the technology rapidly develops.
The briefing closed with Vance defending the administration’s broader law-and-order approach, saying the government should prosecute people who break the law, not those targeted for their political views.
“Let’s throw people in prison who broke the law,” Vance said. “I think this fund is a good part of getting justice for the people who were wrongly treated.”
Vice President Vance also pushed back at a woke reporter, Andrew Feinberg of The Independent who gave more of a speech than asking a question. The Vice President was having none of it.
