Sen. JD Vance of Ohio on Saturday refused to characterize Russian President Vladimir Putin as an “enemy,” saying instead, “I think he’s clearly an adversary. He is a competitor.”
“But I think we also have to be smart about diplomacy,” Vance, a running mate of former President Donald Trump, said in an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. “Just because we don’t like someone doesn’t mean we can’t have a conversation with them once in a while.”
He said these words in response to moderator Kristen Welker’s question about whether Vance sees Putin as an ally or an enemy.
“I think that if we ever want to end the war in Ukraine, in principle, at some level, we will have to go to some kind of negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, our NATO allies in Europe. added the senator. “And that’s just a necessary part.”
Vance also responded to comments made by former Vice President Mike Pence last year Trump asked him putting it “above my oath to the Constitution.”
“Of course, my loyalty is to the American people and to the Constitution of the United States,” Vance said when asked if his loyalty as vice president was to Trump or the Constitution.
“I don’t think there’s any incompatibility between being loyal to the Constitution and supporting Donald Trump,” Vance added. “So I’m trying to convince my fellow Americans out there that Donald Trump’s presidency is working for them, and I’d like us to get back to these smart policies.”
Vance also addressed the criticism that has surfaced in recent weeks from several members of Trump’s first administration, including his former chief of staff. John Kelly and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.
“Donald Trump has already been president for four years. If he was what John Kelly said, then why did Donald Trump bring peace and prosperity?” Vance asked.
He later accused Trump’s rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, of using the Justice Department to target political enemies. There is no evidence that the Justice Department has targeted political opponents of Harris or President Joe Biden.
“The current Department of Justice under the leadership of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden is completely going after the political opponents of the current Democratic Party. I think it’s a shame, but it happens,” Vance said, doubling down after Welker pushed back on the claim.
The Harris campaign, the White House and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The senator went on to call Kelly a “disgruntled ex-employee” and told Welkere, “The people who work closest with him, most of them support this ticket. You named one person, two people, disgruntled ex-employee Kristen, that Donald Trump fired.”