[Financial News] Shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Iran's revised deal as "trash," Vice President JD Vance said the negotiations were progressing.
Vice President Vance said at a White House press conference on the 13th (local time), "We believe the discussion is moving forward," adding, "In the end, the important thing is whether we can meet the baseline set by President Trump."
He nailed the nuclear issue as an absolute condition for negotiations, saying, "It is to create a practical cutoff device to prevent Iran from securing nuclear weapons."
This is a different message from President Trump's hard-line remarks on the previous day. Shortly before his visit to China, President Trump harshly criticized the revised end-of-war proposal proposed by Iran, calling it "unacceptable" and "a poor proposal." Analysts say that the remarks were pressure-sensitive remarks that shake the negotiating table and that the White House may be implementing a strong-temperature strategy at the same time.
Vice President Vance also acknowledged that the aftermath of the war is putting a burden on the U.S. economy. "Last month's figures fell short of expectations," he said, referring to recent price indicators. "There is more work to be done to lower the economic burden felt by the American people."
In fact, the U.S. producer price index (PPI) for April, which was released on the same day, rose 6.0% year-on-year to the highest level since the end of 2022. Analysts say that rising energy prices due to tensions in the Middle East are stimulating corporate costs as a whole.
Vice President Vance has started to evolve his latest remarks. On the previous day, President Trump stirred controversy by saying, "I do not take into account the financial situation of the American people. What is important is to stop Iran from possessing nuclear weapons."
In response, Vice President Vance said, "The president's intention was misrepresented," and stressed, "President Trump considers the U.S. economy and people's lives very important."
At the press conference, questions were raised about the competition for the next presidential candidate. Asked about the potential competition with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President Vance said, "It is not like a presidential style to have a competition like a TV show to select a successor." This is a joke that reminds of the NBC reality program "The Apprentice," which President Trump has hosted in the past, and laughter broke out at the conference. Vice President Vance then evaluated Secretary Rubio as a "good friend" but avoided mentioning the presidential election, saying, "It is time to focus on the vice president's role."
Meanwhile, he also targeted the issue of Medicaid operation in California. Vice President Vance said that the issue of Medicaid, a health insurance system for low-income families, is continuing, adding that he will stop providing 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in federal aid to California. He warned that if states do not cooperate in cracking down on illegal supply, they could block the federal aid themselves. Some analysts say that the plan is aimed at making welfare and finance a political issue targeting areas where the Democratic Party is strong.
Reporter Kim Kyung-min (km@fnnews.com )
For now, negotiations are being maintained, but the incompetence is glaring.
Direct combat has almost ceased, yet the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—bringing effects akin to war—continues.
Even in this situation, the inability to engage in direct negotiations and the endless delays appear only as sacrificing other nations for the sake of America’s energy and defense industries.
It is the diplomacy of an incompetent or immoral U.S. government.
They no longer deserve the title of leader.