Calling Russian President Vladimir Putin an “enemy” on Saturday, Ohio Sen. J.T. Vance declined, saying instead “I think he’s clearly an adversary. He’s a competitor.
“But I think we also have to be smart about diplomacy,” Vance, who is former President Donald Trump’s running mate, said in an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. “Just because we don’t like someone doesn’t mean we can’t have a conversation with them once in a while.”
His comments came in response to a question from moderator Kristen Welker about whether Vance sees Putin as an ally or an adversary.
“I think it’s important if we’re ever going to end the war in Ukraine, basically, at some level, we have to engage in some kind of dialogue between Ukraine and Russia and our NATO allies in Europe,” the senator added. “That’s a necessary part.”
Vance also responded to former Vice President Mike Pence’s comments last year Trump had asked him “I want to appoint him to my oath of office on the Constitution.”
“Certainly my loyalty is to the American people and the American Constitution,” Vance replied, when asked if his loyalty as vice president would lie with Trump or the Constitution.
“I don’t think there’s a conflict between loyalty to the Constitution and support for Donald Trump,” Vance added. “That’s why I’m trying to persuade my fellow Americans that Donald Trump’s presidency worked for them, and I want us to return to those smart policies.”
In a separate interview Saturday on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Vance assured viewers that Trump would stick to the Constitution if re-elected.
“I’m not worried about Donald Trump. I think Donald Trump is a believer in the Constitution. That’s why he’s running for a third term. It’s because he’s worried that Kamala Harris has broken the greatest economy in the world,” Vance said. Moderator Margaret Brennan.
“I think Donald Trump believes in the Constitution of the United States. I know he believes in it. I’ve seen it in his actions. I’ve talked to him about it,” Vance added. “And personally, yes, my first loyalty is to the American people and to the American Constitution. I think the best way to loyally serve those people and that Constitution is to get us back to a place where Americans can live. A decent life again.”
In the NBC interview, Vance also addressed criticism that has surfaced in recent weeks from several members of Trump’s first administration, including the former chief of staff. John Kelly and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.
“Donald Trump has already been president for four years. If John Kelly said he was, why did Donald Trump offer peace and prosperity?” Vance asked.
He then accused Vice President Kamala Harris, a Trump foe, of using the Justice Department to target political opponents. There is no evidence that the Justice Department is targeting political opponents of Harris or President Joe Biden.
“The current Justice Department, under the leadership of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden, is going after the political opponents of the current Democratic Party. I think it’s a shame, but it’s happening,” Vance said, doubling down after Welker pushed back on the assertion.
The Harris campaign, the White House and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Welker called Senator Kelly a “disgruntled ex-staffer” who “worked very closely with him, most of them support this ticket. You mentioned one person, two people, disgruntled ex-staffer Kristen, that Donald Trump fired.”
