What to Know
A comment Vice President JD Vance made about the Iran War during a recent interview has people questioning whether Trump administration officials actually think about what they’re going to say before they say it. During a Fox News interview on Monday, April 13, Vance tried to accuse Iran of “economic terrorism.” But what he said next is what really caught people’s attention.
He was talking about Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
“When it comes to weapons of war, what they have done is engage in this act of economic terrorism against the entire world,” Vance said. “They’ve basically threatened any ship that’s moving through the Strait of Hormuz.”
He then went on to suggest that his boss, President Donald Trump, is also engaging in “economic terrorism.” Yikes. Vance continued, “Well, as the president of the United States showed, two can play at that game. And if the Iranians are going to try and engage in economic terrorism, we’re going to abide by a simple principle: that no Iranian ships are going to get out either.”
In spite of this, Vance went on to claim that Trump actually wants to see Iranians “thrive and succeed,” which sounds a little bit like when First Lady Melania Trump tried to tell children in Iran that the war is happening for their future. Besides, the president recently threatened, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”
Clips from Vance’s “Fox News” interview have been circulating on social media.
Does he realize what he just admitted lol https://t.co/MXimzOk08k
— Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) April 13, 2026
And people can’t believe he actually said that out loud. Some critics saw the questionable statement as Vance actually admitting the truth. “Did JD Vance just say Trump is engaged in economic terrorism? 🤣” someone wrote on X. Many others left similar comments, with one person writing, “So what he’s saying, if I’m understanding this correctly, is that the US is engaging in an act of economic terrorism against the world. Do I have that right?” and another saying, “Hey, Vance, do you not realize that you have admitted Trump has employed economic terrorism?”
Although the fact that Vance actually said this was surprising, critics didn’t disagree. “For once, I agree with the Trump administration,” one of them wrote. “Finally, they’re telling the truth!”
Still, people thought he was “pathetic” for this. “This absolute idiot,” a commenter wrote. “Really went on TV and admitted the administration is committing terrorism.”
People also compared him to Former President George W. Bush.
BUSH: Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we. https://t.co/jGn8BGUwgx pic.twitter.com/69gvf5GYYu
— Jack Meyer 🏛️ (@Jackbmeyer) April 14, 2026
Speaking of government officials saying the quiet part out loud, Vance’s interview reminded people of Bush. One clip in particular has resurfaced on social media in light of Vance inadvertently referring to Trump as an economic terrorist.
In the clip, which is from 2004, Bush said, “Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”
Trump, of course, has also had the tendency to say the quiet part out loud at times. After all, he recently admitted, “I always like to hang around with losers, actually, because it makes me feel better.”
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