 "US President Donald Trump and VP JD Vance (Source: AFP)")
There’s a growing chatter in US media about potential disagreements between President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance over strikes in Yemen targeting Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
According to NBC News, some senior Republican lawmakers are concerned whether Vance tried to obstruct the presidential order greenlighting the US campaign in Yemen. Some are upset over the stance that Vance took ahead of the strikes against the Iran-backed militant group, as revealed in a now-public Signal chat.
The whole controversy regarding the discussion of military plans over Signal chat and the blunder of adding The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief in the discussion overshadowed Vance’s alleged rebellion initially but the issue seems to be getting attention now.
Vance’s comments on Signal chat
As revealed by The Atlantic, Vance questioned Trump’s move to launch attacks against Houthis in the Signal chat.
“I think we are making a mistake,” Vance wrote, saying this would be “inconsistent” with Trump’s Europe policy.
“I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.”
However, Vance later said he would back the consensus of the team but suggested: “There is a strong argument for delaying this a month.”
Vance’s concerns later got dismissed by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who wrote: “As I heard it, the president was clear.”
Hawkish Republicans target Vance
Vance’s alleged ‘anti-Trump’ approach on Yemen strikes has drawn criticism from hawkish Republicans, as per NBC.
“Capitol Hill Republicans still have their jaws on their floor with how actively the VP worked to try and undo a Trump decision,” NBC quoted a senior GOP leader as saying. “Thank goodness Miller stepped in and put him in his place,” the leader added.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“It’s one thing to have a healthy interagency debate before a decision is made. It’s another to try and undo a Commander-in-Chief decision once Trump gives the execute order. This is the latter, and it’s very [John] Bolton-esque,” he added, referring to John Bolton, American government official who briefly served as national security adviser to Trump during first term. Bolton is now a vocal critic of Trump’s policies.
Another Republican leader saw Vance’s stance as a form of obstruction to Trump’s order.
“The president was not aware how inconsistent this is with his own messaging?” said the leader.
“These are the president’s policies, and for JD Vance to question them like that is ridiculous. He is the commander in chief.”
MAGA vs Non-MAGA Republicans
There is also a growing debate whether flashpoints are emerging between hardcore Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters and garden-variety Republicans.
MAGA Republicans say US should have no business in getting involved in foreign conflicts, in line with Trump’s idea of America First. These supporters are now worried over signs of a potential prolonged US military campaign against Houthis.
America’s increasingly evolving military posture in the West Asian region indicate that the US military is in for a protracted mission.
The Pentagon has deployed another aircraft carrier to join the USS Harry Truman in the region.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved moving at least two Patriot missile defence batteries from Asia to West Asia, according to NBC News.
Additionally, a THAAD missile system, which requires a more complex relocation effort—has also been approved, signalling a potential sustained campaign.
There are also reports that US has moved multiple B-2 bombers, C-17 cargo jets and KC-135 refuelling tankers to Diego Garcia, a tiny island in the Indian Ocean.
However, these efforts are backed by non-MAGA Republicans who believe the US should not abandon the West Asia situation.
Overall, the mood in Washington DC is positive regarding Trump’s action in Yemen, meaning that Vance’s anti-Europe position has very few takers, at least as it looks today.