JD Vance Defends Soaring Gas Prices and Dismisses Corruption Concerns at Michigan Town Hall
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At a CBS News town hall in Flat Rock, Michigan, Vice President JD Vance blamed global disruptions and the previous administration for high gasoline prices while brushing aside corruption concerns in the Trump administration, as Senate candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers faced separate campaign disputes.
Vice President JD Vance faced questions from Michigan voters at a town hall hosted by CBS News in Flat Rock, a crucial battleground as the 2026 midterm elections approach. When a Detroit barber asked why gasoline prices remain high compared with the period of President Trump’s first term, Vance pointed to upheaval in global energy markets caused by Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping and blamed part of the price rise on the previous administration’s reduction in refining capacity.
"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.
Vance said the current administration is using the Defense Production Act to try to restore domestic refining capacity, but acknowledged that rebuilding infrastructure will take time. CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil pushed back on Vance’s explanation, noting that high gasoline prices have continued throughout the two years of the Trump administration.
The discussion then turned to corruption allegations in Washington. Dokoupil cited a poll showing strong voter concern and asked Vance whether he had seen any wrongdoing inside the White House.
"You certainly see evidence of corruption in Washington, D.C. Do I see evidence of corruption from the president of the United States, from the administration? No, Tony, I just don’t," Vance responded.
The exchange came shortly after former ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned amid accusations that she had sought donor payments in exchange for access to administration officials, allegations she has denied. Dokoupil also questioned proposed limits on IRS scrutiny of the president’s tax returns and cryptocurrency earnings.
In a separate segment, Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed confirmed that his sister-in-law was involved in litigation tied to the federal terrorism watchlist during the Obama administration, while Republican candidate Mike Rogers had earlier accused El-Sayed of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which El-Sayed denied. Fox News reporters contributed to the coverage.