JD Vance defends Iran war, blames Biden for gas prices at Michigan town hall

Vice President JD Vance told Michigan voters in Flat Rock that the United States has destroyed Iran's nuclear program, even as the conflict continues. The CBS News town hall took place in a state where Democrats and Republicans are competing for an open Senate seat ahead of the November midterms. Abdul El-Sayed represents the Democrats, while former Representative Mike Rogers leads the Republican ticket.

A 43-year-old Detroit barber asked Vance why gasoline costs remain significantly higher than during Donald Trump's first term. Vance attributed the price increase to Iranian attacks on commercial shipping and claimed that roughly 20% of American refining capacity went offline under President Joe Biden. The vice president said the current administration is using the Defense Production Act to restore domestic refining, though he warned that rebuilding the infrastructure will take time. CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil noted that Trump and Vance have held office for nearly two years while Americans continue to pay elevated prices.

Dokoupil shifted the discussion to government corruption, citing a Fox News poll where 60% of voters expressed extreme concern about the issue. When asked if he had felt "squeamish" inside the Trump White House, Vance stated he sees corruption in Washington but denied seeing it in the president or the administration. This exchange occurred days after Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece following allegations that she sought $100,000 from a donor for access to administration officials. Guilfoyle has denied wrongdoing. Vance called selling access to the White House "disgusting and despicable" and affirmed he would comply with subpoenas if Democrats gained control of Congress in January.

A naturalized U.S. citizen who immigrated 20 years ago challenged Vance on his characterization of H-1B visa workers as "foreign indentured servants." Vance acknowledged his rhetoric might have been imperfect but defended his criticism as aimed at companies exploiting foreign workers rather than the immigrants themselves. He argued that the visa system gives employers excessive power and allows them to replace American workers. When asked if his rhetoric dehumanizes immigrants, Vance said his goal is not to do so, though he warned that rapid immigration could undermine social cohesion.

Shortly after the pre-recorded town hall aired, Vance posted to X about riots in France, describing the events as a cautionary tale for the United States. He claimed Western liberals imported the third world into France in the name of diversity. Back at the town hall, Dokoupil asked why the war with Iran had not resulted in a decisive victory. Vance maintained that the U.S. had already won by destroying Iran's nuclear program but said officials are still seeking a verifiable commitment from Tehran to prevent nuclear rebuilding and disruption of global energy supplies.

Eddie Rubin, a lifelong Democrat whose children survived a March attack on Temple Israel in Michigan, urged Vance to condemn antisemitism within his political base, including rhetoric from figures like Tucker Carlson. Vance stated he condemns antisemitism but then criticized El-Sayed for saying "hurt people hurt people" regarding the attack. El-Sayed later apologized for his wording, clarifying he did not intend to justify the violence.