Vice President JD Vance appeared on Fox News this week to discuss Iran negotiations and made a startling confession: he doesn't really understand diplomacy. He said he was "trying to be respectful" of diplomatic protocols but admitted "I don't really understand these things." This came as the United States navigates tense talks with Iran while President Donald Trump has warned the world faces an "economic catastrophe" from potential conflict.
Vance's candid admission raised eyebrows given his position requires expertise in exactly these matters. Yet the vice president seems far more invested in promoting his new memoir, "Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith," than mastering the complexities of international relations. When he appeared on "The View" last week, hosts immediately began pressing him on substantive political issues. Vance cut them short, pleading "Let's talk about the book. I'm here to sell books."
The book itself has struggled to gain traction with readers. Amazon limited reviews to verified purchasers due to "unusual review activity," a euphemism for a flood of one-star ratings. Goodreads, owned by Amazon, suspended reviews entirely on the title. The memoir marks Vance's second book after his bestseller "Hillbilly Elegy."
When pressed by moderator Whoopi Goldberg on "The View" about taking time for a book tour during critical diplomacy, Vance cracked a joke. He later told reporters that appearing on the hostile talkshow had given him "great experience in very hostile negotiations" with Iran. His flippant response stands in stark contrast to the gravity of the situation.
The double standard is hard to ignore. When former Vice President Kamala Harris made any misstep on diplomatic matters, critics pounced mercilessly. Yet Fox News hosts seemed amused rather than alarmed by Vance's admission that he doesn't grasp the fundamentals of his job. One host even chuckled approvingly, "Love it."
Beyond the timing concerns, Vance's devotion to memoir writing while serving as vice president raises broader questions about priorities. The book contains 33 references to babies and children, a reflection of Vance's well-known focus on falling birthrates. He also revisits his infamous "childless cat ladies" comment, calling it "one of the dumbest things" he ever said. Yet he continues to center his public messaging around natalist themes.
Book critics have largely panned "Communion." The memoir has failed to replicate the commercial or critical success of "Hillbilly Elegy," and Vance's constant promotion of it during moments of national importance only underscores questions about whether he should be in elected office at all.
Author James Rodriguez: "A vice president who doesn't understand diplomacy and won't stop hawking his book is exactly the wrong person sitting two heartbeats away from the presidency."
Comments