'Blame Vance' Strategy Emerges on Iran Deal

When discussing the Iran deal on Wednesday, President Trump joked that he would take the credit if it works out—but "if it doesn't work out, I'm blaming JD," reports the Hill. "You better be careful, JD." The quip illustrates the bind Vice President JD Vance is in over the war, which he opposed behind closed doors but also publicly defended in his role as VP.

• 'Vance deal:' The Trump joke doesn't appear to be a complete joke. Axios notes that Trump supporters including Marc Thiessen already are referring to the peace pact as the "Vance deal," while another Trump ally, Sen. Lindsey Graham, made a point to call Vance the "architect of the deal."

• Silent Rubio: Vance has emerged as the face of the peace deal while making the media rounds for his book Communion, notes the Los Angeles Times. At the same time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has remained "effectively mum" about it. Rubio privately argued against the current deal because he sees it as being too easy on Iran, particularly on nukes, according to the account. The two men are seen as the top 2028 GOP candidates, and how the deal shakes out could be a big primary issue.
• Embracing it: For now, Vance is leaning into the view that he helped stop the war. "I think there are some people who just want the bombing to continue, regardless of whether it accomplishes anything for Americans," he told CBS News on Wednesday. "I do think there are people who sometimes confuse the ends with the means."
• Smart strategy? One analyst tells Axios it's a smart move. "Frankly, if I were the Vice President, I'd send [neocons] flowers for their gracious help in making him the face of ending this war," says the GOP operative.
• Rift in the base: In an interview with Megyn Kelly on her podcast, Vance acknowledged the split between "isolationists" and hawks on Iran. In regard to those pushing for boots on the ground, he said, "We need people to be pushing back from inside the tent." Trump himself appears to be treading carefully on this front. At his Wednesday press conference, the president said he wasn't planning to be at Friday's signing because he wasn't sure it "was the kind of document I should be signing."