The Trump administration experienced a recent double setback with the defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the failure to reach an agreement with Iran on the ceasefire.
In both instances, Vice President JD Vance was a key player — his visit to Hungary to shore up the prime minister’s re-election bid was for naught, as was his leadership of the U.S. negotiating team to Islamabad, Pakistan.
It raises the question of just how long the vice president will continue to do the bidding of his boss and do more than mildly voice his opposition to the war with Iran, which he has done on several occasions, expressing his concern about the collateral damage it would bring, as well as the exhaustion of the supply of munitions.
Of course, to expect Vance to be too forceful in his skepticism about Trump’s policies is unthinkable, particularly given reports that he is the current front-runner candidate in the GOP presidential race in 2028. Even so, there is plenty of time for him to separate himself from Trump and his declining popularity, and return to the position he held before Trump’s third presidential run.
There could very well come a time when a step is taken away from between the rock and a hard place, and to join the growing legion of prominent conservatives critical of Trump’s warmongering.
So much of that will depend on the overall impact and fallout from the Iranian conflict. If the dissent continues to escalate from Trump’s base and the midterm elections provide an even less promising one for the Republicans, along with being blamed for all the problems, Vance’s choice will be a lot easier, and his opportunistic stripe will leave but one option.