To say that the last week was “bad” for Vice President JD Vance would be an understatement. To say that it was “a trash fire that seriously threatens to undermine Vance’s political future” would be slightly more accurate. Over the past seven days, the vice president has suffered setbacks on three continents, found himself in the middle of a fight between his boss (secular) and his boss (religious) and became the scapegoat for failing to end a war he reportedly never even wanted.
The American vice presidency has rarely been the best of gigs. The role was an afterthought for the Founders, and it shows in the hodge-podge of responsibilities that it has accrued over the years. But rarely has a vice president been hit harder by the disjointed, catch-all vibe the job brings with it than Vance over the last several days.
The most direct blow to Vance came Saturday in Pakistan. The vice president traveled from Washington for talks with Iranian diplomats and the stated goal of ending the war Trump launched. Spoiler: The talks did not end the war that Trump launched.
This is a preview of Hayes Brown’s latest column. Read the full column here.
