Trump orders Vance to focus on "corruption" in Democrat-run areas, not Iran
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President Trump directed Vice President JD Vance on Thursday to turn his "complete and total attention" toward alleged corruption in Democrat-run cities and states, contending that "[w]e don't need a deal with Iran."
The big picture: After Vance concluded that the Iran war drove Republicans' stunning midterm walloping, Trump is reorienting his No. 2's focus — and directing him to go after Democrats the president labeled as "CORRUPT AND EVIL."
- Oil prices surged, and stocks sank after Trump's post reinjected a note of uncertainty into a market that was acting like the Iran war was all but over.
Driving the news: "We don't need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
- Also on Truth Social Thursday, he threatened new tariffs on Mexico and criticized GOP senators for failing to pass the Save America ACT — adding that failure to do so was "devastating" for Republicans during the midterms.
- He said that he had asked Vance to "focus his complete and total attention" on so-called "Corruption and Crime" in Democrat-run cities and states, naming Minnesota, California and Illinois.
Vance has chaired Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud since the president created it via executive order earlier this year.
- Throughout the first half of his administration and federal crackdown on U.S. cities, Trump has repeatedly framed blue areas as hotbeds of crime and corruption, even when the stats haven't necessarily backed up those arguments.
Catch up quick: Vance was recently heavily involved in a push to reach a new ceasefire with Iran and resume nuclear negotiations, Axios' Barak Ravid reported.
- Vance was a skeptical voice in Trump's inner circle about the war, Ravid reported, and led U.S. negotiating delegations after it began.
- Vance's office and the White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Between the lines: Vance offered a surprisingly candid assessment of the midterm shellacking, writing in an X post last week that "[t]he reason we lost is the war."
- He continued: "If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest."
- "But everyone knows why we lost."
What we're watching: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his G7 counterparts in Paris on Tuesday, where he said Trump had considered resuming the war or cutting a deal but instead settled on strangling the Iranian regime, Axios previously reported.
- Rubio has signaled skepticism of a diplomatic breakthrough — and Trump's post indicates that door is closed, for now.
Editor's note: The story has been updated with additional information.
Go deeper: Trump: New Iran attacks "quite unlikely"
