Vance full interview: No ‘inconsistency between loyalty to the Constitution and support’ for Trump

[0:00] Senator J.D. Vance, welcome back to Meet the Press. [0:02] It's good to be here. Thank you. [0:03] It's great to have you. Thank you for sitting down with us. [0:06] I want to start with some of the news this week. [0:08] Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that North Korean troops are training in Russia [0:13] and potentially bound for the war in Ukraine. [0:15] The U.S. intelligence community confirmed that Russia is creating disinformation [0:20] to sow doubt in the upcoming presidential election. [0:23] Let me ask you this question, Senator. [0:25] Do you see Russian President Vladimir Putin as an ally or an enemy? [0:30] Well, I think that he's clearly an adversary. He is a competitor. [0:34] But I think that we also have to be smart about diplomacy, too. [0:37] Just because we don't like somebody doesn't mean that we can't occasionally engage in conversations with them. [0:41] And I think it's important if we're ever going to end the war in Ukraine fundamentally at some level, [0:46] we're going to have to engage in some sort of negotiation between Ukraine, between Russia, [0:50] between our NATO allies in Europe. And that's just a necessary part. [0:54] It doesn't mean we have to like it, by the way. It doesn't mean we condone the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [0:58] But I think that sometimes you do have to engage in diplomacy, [1:01] even with and maybe especially with your adversaries. [1:04] I think the bigger problem, Kristen, if we step back for a little bit, of course, [1:07] we're on the cusp, obviously, of a presidential election where I want the American people to select my running mate as the next president. [1:13] Whether it's the cost of groceries, whether it's the southern border, and importantly, whether it's the chaos all over the world, [1:20] I think really the theme of this election is that Kamala Harris broke things in the world, in the country, [1:27] and Donald Trump will fix it. [1:28] And if we get back to his steady leadership, it's not just going to mean lower grocery prices at home. [1:33] It's also going to mean a much more stable and peaceful world. [1:36] When you say that he's an adversary, just to get back to the question, you're not willing to go so far as to call him an enemy? [1:42] Well, we're not in a war with him, and I don't want to be in a war with Vladimir Putin's Russia. [1:46] I think that we should try to pursue avenues of peace. [1:49] A peace I'd also call China certainly a competitor, but we're not in a war with China either. [1:54] I do think, though, that China constitutes the biggest threat that we have for the United States of America, [1:59] and I think that we have to be serious about it. [2:02] But I think we have to be careful about the language that we use in international diplomacy. [2:06] We can recognize, obviously, that we have adversarial interests with Russia. [2:09] We can condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and I have, and of course the president has. [2:13] But we also need to engage in some smart diplomacy if we're ever going to get out of the mess [2:17] that Kamala Harris has left us in and get back to a posture of peace. [2:21] And of course, Donald Trump was president for four years while Russia was essentially invading Crimea. [2:27] Why didn't he kick him out when he had the chance? [2:29] He had four years. [2:30] Oh, I think that's a misunderstanding of the history, Chris. [2:34] I look at that much differently. [2:35] First of all, we had Russia invade another country, a sovereign nation during Obama. [2:40] We had Russia invade a sovereign nation during Bush's term. [2:43] We had Russia invade a sovereign nation during the leadership of Kamala Harris. [2:47] The one four-year term where Russia did not launch a full-scale invasion against a neighbor [2:51] was under the leadership of Donald Trump. [2:53] We also have to remember, just on that point, [2:55] if Donald Trump had not given Ukraine javelins, the country would not exist as an independent, [3:01] sovereign nation anymore. [3:02] So the idea that Donald Trump wasn't sufficiently strong on Russia, I think, [3:06] is belied by the actual history of the period. [3:08] Again, there was fighting going on for four years during Donald Trump. [3:11] There was fighting, but there wasn't a full-scale invasion. [3:13] I think that's important. [3:13] Let me ask you, because there are real concerns about Vladimir Putin invading NATO allies. [3:20] Under a Trump-Vance administration, can you pledge, sitting here today, [3:24] that the U.S. will continue to remain a member of NATO? [3:28] Of course, we're going to honor our NATO commitments, [3:30] but I think it's important, Kristen, that we recognize that NATO is not just a welfare client. [3:36] It should be a real alliance. [3:37] And this is a strong difference between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. [3:40] Donald Trump wants NATO to be strong. [3:42] He wants us to remain in NATO, but he also wants NATO countries [3:46] to actually carry their share of the defense burden. [3:49] Under Kamala Harris's leadership, we've actually seen how weak NATO is [3:53] as a full-scale military alliance. [3:55] It's effectively the United Kingdom, a couple of other nations, and the United States. [4:00] NATO's problem is, particularly Germany, has to spend more on security, [4:05] has to spend more on defense. [4:06] We can't be the policemen of the world. [4:08] We want NATO to be an alliance, not just a dependent of the United States. [4:11] NATO has been unified in defending Ukraine. [4:13] Just to be very clear, though, you would stay in NATO. [4:15] Just a yes? [4:16] We would stay in NATO, Kristen, but this is important. [4:19] You're right. [4:19] NATO has done, some of the countries have done a lot, [4:22] but actually some of the countries relative to GDP have done very little in Ukraine, [4:26] and that's important. [4:28] We're talking to the American people, of course, [4:30] and I think a very significant difference between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is [4:35] Kamala Harris would like to use our tax dollars and our troops to subsidize Europeans [4:40] not taking care of their own security. [4:42] Donald Trump wants Europe to step up big time to become a real ally of the United States [4:48] and not just a dependent. [4:48] Senator, let's move on because you talked about the threat from China. [4:52] So this week we learned that China was behind a broad hacking campaign targeting the phones [4:56] of both presidential campaigns, highlighting the threat that China poses to this country. [5:01] And yet Donald Trump recently called his domestic political opponents, quote, [5:05] the enemy from within and said they are more dangerous than Russia and China. [5:10] Do you believe that people like Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi are more dangerous than Russia [5:14] and China? [5:15] Well, I think what Donald Trump said is that those folks pose a greater threat to United States' [5:20] peace and security because America is strong enough to stand up to any foreign adversary. [5:25] Do you agree with him? [5:25] They pose a larger threat to the United States than Russia and China? [5:29] What he said, and I do agree with this, what he said is that the biggest threat we have [5:33] in our country, it's not a foreign adversary because we can handle these guys. [5:36] We can handle foreign conflicts. [5:38] We can't handle, look, under Nancy Pelosi's long life in public leadership, [5:43] the United States has gone from the preeminent industrial power of the world to second next to China. [5:49] That fundamentally belongs on Nancy Pelosi's shoulders. [5:53] And if we're going to have a more prosperous country, we've got to recognize our own leadership [5:57] is why we lost our industrial base to China. [6:00] Our own leadership is failing to lead this country into peace and prosperity. [6:04] And of course, Kamala Harris, look, when I look at the biggest threats to America, Kristen, [6:08] I think the fact that people can't afford groceries, the fact that we can't meet our recruitment [6:12] goals in the military, the fact that Americans have a wide open southern border, [6:16] that's a way bigger threat than any foreign threat. [6:19] And yes, it's caused by broken leadership. [6:21] And yet, Senator, as you know, inflation is coming down. [6:23] Let me ask you about some of what we've heard here. [6:25] It's 25 percent higher, Kristen, than it was when Donald Trump left the Oval Office. [6:30] Let me tell you. [6:31] Do Americans. [6:31] Let me ask. [6:32] This is an important issue. [6:33] Senator, let me ask you about some of what we've heard in the U.S. this week. [6:36] Like inflation is a solved problem, then maybe they should vote for Kamala Harris. [6:40] If you feel like the price of groceries, if you feel like the price of housing is too high, [6:44] if you feel like inflation is not over, then Donald Trump is your man. [6:48] Right. [6:48] There's no doubt folks believe that groceries are too high. [6:51] Just making the point that inflation has come down. [6:53] If they are too high, I agree with those folks. [6:54] Let me ask you about some of what we've heard here in the U.S. this week. [6:57] Donald Trump's longest serving chief of staff, General John Kelly, said Donald Trump is a fascist. [7:02] He echoed comments made by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, [7:07] who also called him a fascist. [7:09] When two four-star generals who worked so closely with Donald Trump call him a fascist, [7:15] why shouldn't voters believe them, Senator? [7:18] Well, I think that Mark Milley and John Kelly are both disgruntled former employees. [7:22] And very many of the things that they accused Donald Trump of, [7:25] people who were in the room at the time some of those comments were made, [7:29] they have said explicitly Donald Trump didn't say the things that he was accused of. [7:33] And look, Donald Trump was already president for four years. [7:35] If he was what John Kelly said he was, then why did Donald Trump deliver peace and prosperity? [7:41] He didn't arrest his political opponents, as Kamala Harris and her Department of Justice have in fact done. [7:46] Hold on, there's no evidence of that, Senator, that Kamala Harris has arrested their political opponents. [7:50] The Department of Justice has not been going after political opponents? [7:53] Senator, there's no evidence of that. [7:55] The current Department of Justice, under the leadership of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden, [7:59] has absolutely been going after the political opponents of the current Democratic Party. [8:03] I think that's a disgrace, but it's happening. [8:05] There's no evidence that the DOJ is going after their political opponents. [8:09] Donald Trump was indicted by federal grand juries. [8:11] Let me ask you, though, you said that they're disgruntled employees. [8:14] Trump praised both Kelly and Milley. [8:17] In fact, he said Kelly was, quote, one of the best people I've ever worked with. [8:21] In addition to those two, Trump's national security advisers, two defense secretaries, [8:26] even his vice president all say he's unfit to be president. [8:29] Why should the American people hire Donald Trump when the people who worked most closely with him [8:34] say that he's unfit to serve? [8:36] The people who worked most closely with him, most of them are supporting this ticket. [8:40] You mentioned one person, two people, a disgruntled ex-employee, Kristen, who Donald Trump fired. [8:45] He said something nice about him, and then he fired him, and now that person's attacking Donald Trump. [8:49] But I think this is important because I think the American media has to be honest. [8:53] Why is it, Kristen, that John Kelly doesn't like Donald Trump? [8:57] It's not about personality. [8:59] It's about policy. [9:00] And I think the American people have the right to know that Donald Trump rejected the John Kelly, [9:06] the Mark Milley consensus that America should be the policeman of the world. [9:10] And because of that, these folks hate him. [9:12] They, if Donald Trump wanted to start a nuclear war with Russia, I guarantee you that John Kelly [9:18] and Liz Cheney would be at the front of the line endorsing him. [9:21] But I think the media misses something really important. [9:23] This disagreement is not about personalities. [9:26] This disagreement is because John Kelly didn't like the peace through strength policy of Donald Trump. [9:31] I do, and I think the American people do. [9:33] He was the longest-serving chief of staff, and Donald Trump says he only hires the best people. [9:36] I got to keep moving, though, because our time is very limited. [9:39] Former Vice President Mike Pence said, quote, [9:41] President Trump asked me to put him over my oath to the Constitution. [9:46] Anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States. [9:51] Will your loyalty, Senator, be to the Constitution or to Donald Trump? [9:56] Well, of course, my loyalty is to the American people and to the United States Constitution. [9:59] But I think the best way to accomplish that loyalty, Kristen, [10:04] is to get back to a president who delivered the fastest-rising take-home pay in a generation, [10:09] 1.5 percent inflation, and a secure southern border. [10:12] I don't think there's inconsistency between loyalty to the Constitution and support for Donald Trump. [10:17] That's why I'm out there trying to persuade my fellow Americans that Donald Trump's presidency worked for them. [10:22] And I'd like us to get back to those smart policies. [10:24] Just to put a very fine point on this, Mike Pence says Trump asked him to put Trump over the Constitution. [10:29] If you find yourself in a similar position one day, will your loyalty be to the Constitution or to Donald J. Trump? [10:36] I just said my loyalty, Kristen, is to the Constitution of the United States. [10:39] Over Donald Trump. [10:39] But have we talked at all about the unaffordable costs of groceries? [10:43] Have we talked about the fact that young Americans can't afford a home? [10:48] You didn't bring that up. [10:49] I brought that up. [10:50] It's so interesting, Kristen, because I think that Kamala Harris' campaign, [10:53] and unfortunately too many of her media allies, [10:56] are more interested in what Donald Trump has said than what Donald Trump did in office. [11:04] You're more interested in what Kamala Harris is accusing Donald Trump of [11:09] than what Donald Trump actually did during his four years in office, which is deliver peace and prosperity. [11:15] We're getting a hard wrap. [11:15] So on the economy, quickly before I let you go, [11:17] Donald Trump on Friday again floated the idea of getting rid of the federal income tax. [11:22] Just to be clear, are you proposing eliminating all federal income taxes in a Trump-vance administration? [11:28] Donald Trump didn't propose that. [11:29] He set that as an aspirational goal. [11:31] Is that something you would back, getting rid of all federal income taxes? [11:33] Well, I'm backing Donald Trump for president, and he set an aspirational goal and said, [11:37] look, in this country, for a long time, we funded the federal government primarily through tariffs. [11:42] In other words, primarily through penalizing foreign corporations and foreign countries [11:48] from taking advantage of our domestic markets. [11:50] That's an aspirational goal. [11:52] What is very real about what Donald Trump has actually proposed, [11:55] his specific policy proposals, is that we want to eliminate taxes on tips. [11:59] We want to eliminate taxes on overtime pay. [12:01] That's the Donald Trump policy proposal. [12:04] He's talking aspirationally about something that he himself thinks is less of a focus than [12:10] cutting taxes on tips. [12:11] Getting a hard wrap, so just yes or no, is getting rid of all federal income taxes on [12:16] the table. [12:16] It's a possibility under a Trump-vance administration. [12:18] Is it on the table with the Democratic Congress that we have? [12:21] I don't think that's realistic, Kristen. [12:23] But I do think it's good to set an aspiration of what you want the country to look like. [12:26] So you don't rule it out. [12:27] And right now, we're working on cutting taxes on tips, cutting taxes on overtime. [12:31] OK, so you're not ruling it out. [12:32] Senator J.D. Vance. [12:33] Thanks, Kristen. [12:34] Thank you very much for your time. [12:35] Of course. [12:35] Appreciate it. [12:36] Likewise.