The White House press briefing room has become an informal audition stage this month in the intensifying race to succeed President Donald Trump in 2028.
Taking the podium on Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance, following a similar appearance by rival Secretary of State Marco Rubio two weeks earlier, used the historic venue primarily to impress an audience of one.
Filling in for press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is on maternity leave, Vance spent nearly an hour fielding questions. He defended Trump's increasingly unpopular Iran war and the newly created $1.8 billion fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they were politically prosecuted.
He declined to rule out using taxpayer money to compensate people convicted of assaulting police during the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, dismissed European concerns over scrapping troop deployment to Poland, and called a reporter's suggestion that Trump's stock purchases raised corruption concerns 'absurd.'
Vance delivered his answers in a measured manner, contrasting with Trump's confrontational style, and seemed bemused as reporters shouted for his attention. 'Marco's right, this really is chaos,' Vance said.
Both men are seen as contenders for the 2028 Republican nomination. Rubio's smooth performance drew praise from Republicans and even some Democrats.
Trump said both did 'great' and that a Vance-Rubio ticket would be 'perfect,' but added he was not endorsing anyone yet.
Rubio's aides turned his briefing answer into a campaign-style video. Vance assured the public the Iran war is 'not a forever war.'
