President Donald Trump has moved Vice President JD Vance off Iran diplomacy and onto a new domestic assignment focused on alleged crime and corruption in Democratic-run cities, as reported by Reality Tea. The shift comes days after Vance publicly blamed the Iran war for the heavy Republican losses in the midterms.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said he asked Vance to focus his “complete and total attention” on what he called “Massive Corruption and Crime” in Democrat-run cities and states. He claimed that fixing the alleged criminal activity would balance the federal budget faster than any Iran agreement and wrote, “We don’t need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed.”
Trump named Minnesota, California, and Illinois as examples of what he called “poorly run, corrupt disasters.” He did not give specific examples of how billions of dollars are allegedly being stolen each month. Vance already leads the White House’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, which Trump created through a March executive order targeting fraud in federally funded benefit programs.
Vance is off the Iran file for now
The move takes Vance away from a role he held for most of the year. He led the US team at an April summit in Islamabad, helped negotiate a June memorandum of understanding, and headed a round of direct talks in Switzerland. He also reportedly sent a letter through Qatari mediators to Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, proposing renewed discussions.
The morning after the election, Vance wrote on X that “the reason we lost is the war,” The Hill reported. He also stood by his earlier recommendation to end the war, calling it “sound advice.” Trump told reporters the post had not affected their relationship but added that “a lot of people didn’t like his comments.”
With Trump now saying the US doesn’t need an Iran deal, the administration is weighing whether to escalate strikes, withdraw, or keep the status quo. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine have presented the president with several military plans. The Strait of Hormuz remains contested, and a US naval blockade continues to restrict Iranian oil exports.
Vance is seen as a leading contender for the 2028 Republican nomination, and the new assignment gives him a national platform. Trump has targeted Democratic-led cities over immigration and alleged corruption since his second term began in January 2025. Democrats will control both chambers of Congress next year after flipping the House and Senate in the midterms.
Published: Nov 13, 2026 01:45 pm