JD Vance Stands Firm on Gas Prices and Rejects Washington Corruption Claims at Michigan Town Hall
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At a CBS News town hall in Flat Rock, Michigan, Vice President JD Vance explained high gasoline prices by citing global energy disruptions and the previous administration’s policies, while rejecting claims of corruption in the Trump administration as Senate candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers addressed separate campaign controversies.
Vice President JD Vance answered questions from Michigan voters at a town hall hosted by CBS News in Flat Rock, an important battleground ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. When a Detroit barber asked why gasoline prices remain high compared with the period of President Trump’s first term, Vance cited disruptions to global energy markets caused by Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping and said part of the increase stemmed from 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 help restore domestic refining capacity, emphasizing that rebuilding infrastructure takes time. CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil challenged Vance’s explanation, asserting that high gasoline prices have persisted throughout the two years of the Trump administration.
The conversation then moved 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 claims that she had sought donor payments for access to administration officials, a matter she has denied. Dokoupil also raised questions about 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 his sister-in-law’s involvement in litigation related to the federal terrorism watchlist during the Obama administration, while Republican candidate Mike Rogers had previously accused El-Sayed of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which the Democrat denied. Fox News reporters contributed to the coverage.