JD Vance Defends Gas-Price Policies and Claims Iran Nuclear Program Destroyed at Michigan Town Hall
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At a CBS-hosted town hall in Flat Rock, Michigan, Vice President JD Vance linked high gasoline prices to Iran-related shipping disruptions and defended the claim that U.S. strikes have eliminated Iran’s nuclear program, while addressing immigration rhetoric and antisemitism concerns.
Vice President JD Vance answered questions from Michigan voters at a town hall in Flat Rock organized by CBS News, a few weeks before the November midterm elections. He attributed elevated gasoline prices to Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping, which he said have disrupted global energy markets, and added that the Biden administration’s earlier shutdown of about 20% of U.S. refining capacity contributed to the price increase. Vance noted that the Trump administration used the Defense Production Act to restore domestic refining capacity, but warned that rebuilding infrastructure would take time.
When pressed about corruption allegations involving former White House officials, Vance said he sees no evidence of wrongdoing by the president or the administration, describing the sale of White House access as “disgusting and despicable” and stating he would comply with any congressional subpoenas.
On immigration, Vance acknowledged that his earlier remarks characterizing some H-1B visa workers as “foreign indentured servants” were imperfect, but clarified that his criticism targets companies that exploit foreign workers rather than immigrants themselves. He argued that the H-1B system gives employers excessive control and can lead to the displacement of American workers.
Vance also responded to a voter’s question about the ongoing conflict with Iran. He asserted that the United States has already destroyed Iran’s nuclear program and that the primary goal of the operation was to prevent Tehran from rebuilding nuclear capabilities and disrupting global energy supplies. He claimed that without U.S. naval protection in the Strait of Hormuz, gasoline prices could be three times higher.
Addressing antisemitism, Vance condemned hate against Jews and criticized Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s remarks following a synagogue attack in Michigan, saying the comments showed empathy for the attacker rather than the victims.
"That's actually the biggest reason why gas prices are so high, because when Joe Biden was president, we had about 20% of American refining capacity that went offline," Vance said.
"I don’t see evidence of corruption from the president of the United States, from the administration," Vance told the moderator.
"My goal here is not to dehumanize any immigrant. And in fact, I love a number of immigrants," Vance added.
"Have we destroyed the Iranian nuclear program? The answer is yes," Vance affirmed.
"I condemn anti-Semitism. I condemn Jew hatred," Vance stated.