JD Vance was drawn into another controversy linked to the Iran war during a Turning Point USA event in Georgia, as he addressed escalating tensions and the backlash facing the White House over its stance.
The clash comes amid firm statements from Pope Leo, who has repeatedly spoken out against the violence and urged an end to the fighting.
God ‘does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them’
“even though you make many prayers, I will not listen — your hands are full of blood”.
He also delivered a blunt message at a prayer vigil in St Peter’s Basilica.
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”
Those comments have reportedly irritated Donald Trump and his allies, and the dispute spilled into Vance’s appearance when an audience member interrupted as the vice president discussed the Pope and the widening political rift between Leo and Trump.
As noted by the Daily Mail, Vance responded to the Pope’s position while cautioning him about stepping into theological territory.
“I think it’s very, very important for the Pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology.”
Vance paused to address the disturbance, telling the heckler to stop shouting while he was answering, before moving on and referring to the interrupter as a:
‘random dude’
He went on to say he respected the Pope as an advocate for peace, but argued against the idea that war is never justified, pointing to historical examples such as the Allied fight against Nazi Germany.
The moment is the latest development in the increasingly public tension between Trump’s circle and the Vatican, after Pope Leo described the war as:
‘absurd and inhuman’
Trump, meanwhile, had already targeted the pontiff in a Truth Social post days earlier.
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.”
He also challenged Leo’s position on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.”
Trump further complained that the Pope was criticising him while he claimed to be delivering what voters elected him to do.
“And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History.”
In a separate post about the Iran conflict, Trump also wrote:
“The Iranians don’t seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Vance has similarly stressed that any talks depend on Tehran’s approach at the negotiating table.
“if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand”.
He added that the US would not respond positively if it believed Iran was acting deceptively.
“If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.”