The Vice President, JD Vance, recently addressed a series of pressing issues during a White House press conference. His remarks covered the ongoing US-Iran conflict, the leadership of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the future of artificial intelligence in America.
Vance’s comments came amidst a backdrop of geopolitical tension and technological advancement, offering a glimpse into the administration’s stance on these critical topics.
US-Iran Conflict and Military Accountability
Responding to Iran’s claims that US strikes hit a wedding party, Vance expressed skepticism. He emphasized that the United States never targets civilians in combat, stating, “I’m extremely skeptical of this. What I can say with 100% confidence is that unlike [Iran], the United States never targets civilians in combat. We never will do that. We never have done that, and unfortunately, obviously, sometimes things happen.”
Vance acknowledged the possibility of mistakes but highlighted the difference between US and Iranian military conduct. He assured that the US is investigating the incident swiftly, emphasizing their commitment to learning from any errors. “We want to know, and if we do make mistakes – again, this is a big difference between us and Iran – when our military makes mistakes, they learn from them to try to get better from them,” he said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Leadership
Vance praised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, describing him as a very good friend and an “amazing secretary of war.” He noted their shared vision for a culture shift at the Department of War, aiming to revive the warrior spirit in the United States. “What Pete came in wanting to do was revive the warrior spirit in the United States of America,” Vance stated.
Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Opposition
Addressing concerns about data center opposition and AI development, Vance downplayed the disconnect between widespread opposition and the administration’s AI fervor. He agreed that there’s a very good chance the US could be bested by China in the AI race if Democrats held Congress.
Vance suggested that opposition to data centers stems from concerns about neighborhood degradation and increased power bills. He advocated for following the president’s lead in addressing these issues, emphasizing the need for ratepayer protection and power grid management. “The way to bridge that gap is for people to do what the president United States has enabled. He’s made it easier to build a nuclear power plant, or any other power plant, next to a data center,” he said.
Additional Press Conference Highlights
Vance also addressed the deportation of rightwing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, stating he found out about it publicly and was unsure if the president knew beforehand. He mentioned the possibility of following up with the president for more information.
Regarding the US-Iran conflict, Vance clarified that he wouldn’t call it a war right now, noting there is no active shooting. He acknowledged that there have been flare-ups but emphasized that major combat operations lasted only about six weeks.
Vance also discussed the administration’s efforts to bolster the US’s strategic petroleum reserve through agreements to develop oil in Venezuela. He claimed this would lower gas prices and benefit both Americans and Venezuelans.
