Vice President JD Vance recently found himself at the center of intense confrontations during appearances on two major news programs, ABC’s *This Week* with George Stephanopoulos and NBC’s *Meet the Press* with Kristen Welker. These interviews highlighted Vance’s unyielding defense of controversial figures and policies, while also showcasing stark differences in how the discussions concluded.
Clash on ‘This Week’ with George Stephanopoulos
The tension escalated quickly on ABC’s *This Week* when host George Stephanopoulos pressed Vance on a bribery report involving Tom Homan, a figure associated with Vance’s political circle. Vance staunchly defended Homan, asserting, “He did not take a bribe.” He argued that a reported $50,000 payment Homan may have received from agents in a sting operation could have been for legitimate services.
“Is it illegal to take a payment for doing services? The FBI has not prosecuted him. I’ve never seen any evidence that he’s engaged in criminal wrongdoing,” Vance stated firmly. He further challenged the narrative by saying, “Nobody has accused Tom of committing a crime, even the far-left media like yourself. So I’m actually not sure what the precise question is.”
The interview took a dramatic turn when Vance accused Stephanopoulos of pursuing a “weird left-wing rabbit hole.” This provocative remark prompted an immediate reaction from the host, who abruptly ended the segment.
As Vance continued speaking, Stephanopoulos cut his microphone and transitioned to a commercial break, stating, “You did not answer the question. Thank you for your time this morning.” This tense exchange underscored the deep divide between Vance and the host, whose past involvement in a defamation lawsuit with Donald Trump, settled by ABC for $15 million, added further context to the confrontation.
Discussion on ‘Meet the Press’ with Kristen Welker
Earlier that day, Vance appeared on NBC’s *Meet the Press*, where host Kristen Welker questioned him about President Donald Trump’s social media posts calling for the prosecution of political opponents, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Welker pointed to reports suggesting Trump’s posts were a direct message to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“Is the Department of Justice acting on orders from the president to prosecute his political opponents?” Welker asked pointedly.