The next is the transcript of the interview with Vice President JD Vance that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Oct. 12, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Good morning and welcome to Face The Nation. We start right this moment with Vice President JD Vance, who joins us from Cincinnati, this morning. Good morning to you, Mr. Vice President.
VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE: Good morning, Margaret, thanks for having me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re getting very near that 72 hour deadline for the hostage launch. I believe the world is holding its breath right here. Is the administration seeing indicators that Hamas and Israel are complying with all the pieces they should and that this may go forward?
VICE PRESIDENT VANCE: Sure, Margaret, so knock on wooden, however we really feel very assured the hostages can be launched, and that the President is definitely touring to the Center East, possible this night, with a view to meet them and greet them in individual. It is a massive day for his or her households, however I believe extra importantly, it is a massive day for all the world. The President of america stated to his whole diplomatic crew, particularly Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to go and get a deal achieved, to cease the battle in Gaza, to start to rebuild Gaza so the inhabitants might stay there in peace and prosperity, to truly eradicate the specter of terrorism to our pals in Israel- which may be very, essential, and in addition to deliver the hostages dwelling alive. It was a really tall job. He pursued a really non conventional diplomacy with individuals who weren’t 40 12 months diplomats, however individuals who introduced a recent perspective to it. And naturally, the President was criticized for it. The diplomatic crew was criticized for it. However I believe that as a result of he selected a special pathway, he did not simply do what everyone else previously had achieved. We are actually on the cusp of a sustainable peace within the Center East. It is a terrific second.
MARGARET BRENNAN: These are some very bold plans in section two specifically, of this deal. Let me ask you about a few of the particulars, as a result of the administration has pledged about 200 US troops from Central Command to be a part of implementing this deal. They don’t seem to be going to be in Gaza, however how lengthy will they be concerned right here? And extra broadly, is the Trump administration absolutely dedicated to protecting the strain on? As a result of these stuff you simply talked about aren’t going to occur in a single day by way of dismantling Hamas and constructing in direction of a secure Gaza.
VICE PRESIDENT VANCE: You are precisely proper, Margaret. It’s going to take constant leverage and constant strain from the President of america on down. I do know the President may be very dedicated to doing that, however you requested in regards to the 200 troops from Central Command. I believe you set it precisely. These usually are not troops who’re going to be put in Gaza, however they’re troops who’re already at Central Command. They have been at that base for a lot of, a few years, and they are going to assist monitor and mediate this peace. Inevitably, there are going to be conflicts right here. There are going to be issues that the folks in Gaza disagree with Israel about, that the Israelis disagree with the Gulf Arab states about, we see our function actually as mediating a few of these disputes and guaranteeing that the strain stays on everyone to attain a sturdy and lasting peace. One of many underneath reported components of this deal Margaret is that the President satisfied all the Muslim world actually each the Gulf Arab states, however as far in Southeast Asia as Indonesia, to actually step up and supply floor troops in order that Gaza may very well be secured in security. And that truly makes it attainable to rebuild. It makes it attainable to dismantle these terrorist networks. It makes it attainable to make sure that lasting peace that each one of us care a lot about. So we expect that the Arab international locations, the Muslim-majority international locations, are going to step up in a giant manner with troops on the bottom, we will proceed to play our mediation function. And I believe that is a really, excellent place for all of us to be. It has been profitable so far, and naturally, we will work to make it as profitable during as we are able to.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Large image, although, with regards to American safety. You stated again in July that you just’d seen what you known as heartbreaking photographs of little children who’re clearly ravenous to demise in Gaza and that quote, “Israel’s bought to do extra to let that support in.” Are you involved that even when, God prepared, this battle ends, America’s safety has been endangered by this notion that America has been okay with Israel and in assist of it, regardless of conduct that clearly you and the President did not agree with.
VICE PRESIDENT VANCE: Properly, look, because the President stated, it’s important to bear in mind, the battle began due to a brutal terrorist assault on Israeli soil, and we have been laser targeted on eliminating the terrorist risk to the Israelis, whereas additionally guaranteeing that the harmless folks in Gaza get the mandatory humanitarian support. That is a troublesome stability to strike, however I believe should you take a look at the dancing on the street in Gaza, should you take a look at the way in which that the Gulf Arab states actually all the Muslim world, but additionally you take a look at how the Israelis responded. They had been cheering on the point out of President Trump’s title yesterday in a large rally in Israel. That is a kind of peace offers the place Muslims and Jews and Christians all appear unified that it is a actually good factor for the world. It is a actually good factor for humanity, and it occurred due to President Trump’s management. So I truly suppose this peace deal will make us safer. I am positive they are going to be some laborious emotions from the final couple of years of battle. There at all times are. But when we are able to construct a sustainable peace, Margaret, I’m 100% positive Individuals can be safer due to it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me ask you about what’s taking place right here at dwelling, or maybe not taking place with regards to negotiations to reopen the federal government. There have been greater than 4,000 layoff notices known as RIFs, or discount in pressure, bulletins that went out Friday to employees throughout seven completely different businesses, together with Treasury and Well being and Human Providers. Take a take heed to how the President described this.
[SOT]
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We’ll be slicing some very talked-about Democrat applications that are not in style with Republicans, frankly, as a result of that is the way in which it really works. They needed to do that so we’ll get little style of their very own medication.
[END SOT]
MARGARET BRENNAN: How are you deciding who will get laid off?
VICE PRESIDENT VANCE: Properly, the primary factor that we’re targeted on Margaret is guaranteeing important providers stay open, and clearly, in a authorities shutdown, we’ve got restricted funds to work with, as a result of the appropriations that preserve the federal government working haven’t been made. That is because of Chuck Schumer and the Democrats. So we’re making an attempt to do all the pieces that we are able to to make sure that low revenue ladies and youngsters get the meals providers that they want. We’re making an attempt to ensure that we pay our troops as a result of that issues for nationwide safety. We additionally need our folks to get their paychecks. That is the place we have been targeted, and sadly, what that does imply Margaret is that some federal bureaucrats are going to should get laid off. This isn’t a scenario that we’re enthusiastic about. We wish the federal government to reopen, however Chuck Schumer, the Democrats determined to close down the federal government, and we’ve got to take care of the implications within the administration, so that is what we’re doing.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, these aren’t furloughs. These are notifications of being laid off, of shedding their jobs, that is why it is a bit of completely different this time, and particularly with regards to what’s taking place inside the well being sector. CBS did affirm on Saturday that the Trump administration went and rescinded a few of the layoffs of a whole bunch of CDC scientists who had been mistakenly laid off on Friday, after which advised Saturday that is not the case, however a few of them had been concerned with the federal measles response. A few of them had been concerned with the response on Ebola. How does a mistake like this occur? Did the White Home even speak to the CDC?
VICE PRESIDENT VANCE: Properly, so- so two- two responses to that, Margaret. Initially, I need to guarantee the American people who the frontline well being care employees, the individuals who monitor measles, Ebola and different infectious illnesses, these persons are nonetheless on the job, and we’re making an attempt very laborious to determine how to make sure these folks get a paycheck, in fact, as a result of we would like them to be pleased and wholesome. We wish them to have the ability to do their jobs effectively. However the second level, Margaret, is the federal government shutdown inevitably results in some chaos. We’re determining easy methods to take cash from some areas and provides it to different areas. That chaos is as a result of Schumer and the far left Democrats shut down the federal government. Now we have to recollect, Margaret, that the overwhelming majority of Republicans and- and to their nice credit score, quite a few average Democrats, have persistently voted to reopen the federal government. But when Chuck Schumer and the far left Senate Democrats are going to close down the federal government, that’s going to result in some chaos. So that you ask, how does this error occur? It occurred as a result of Chuck Schumer shut down the federal government, and we’re making an attempt to ensure that important providers nonetheless perform within the face of that shutdown.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However that was a White Home determination to put off these people. You heard the President speaking about that. That- that wasn’t Chuck Schumer’s determination. I perceive your broader level on the negotiations, however the layoffs got here from the president and the White Home.
VICE PRESIDENT VANCE: However my level is, Margaret, that we’ve got to do layoffs as a result of we’ve got to protect mandatory assets to do probably the most important issues that the federal government does, and in that section, you are going to have some chaos. You are going to lay off folks, frankly, Margaret, that the White Home would not need to lay off. We want to reopen the federal government and make sure the essential- important providers keep on. However sadly, in an setting the place we’re coping with restricted assets, the place the federal government is shut down, we have to maneuver some issues round. And in that transferring issues round, there’s some chaos, there’s some unpredictability, however we’re making an attempt to do all the pieces that we are able to with the- the hand of playing cards that Chuck Schumer and the Democrats have dealt us. That is our solemn promise, and that is our obligation to the American folks, however there’s going to be chaos. That is why we need to open the federal government. That is why we would like the Democrats to just accept that the federal government needs to be open.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However are you assured that these job cuts are authorized, that these reductions in pressure throughout a shutdown are going to resist authorized scrutiny, provided that some unions are saying it is a violation of the Anti Deficiency Act?
JD VANCE: Properly, we’re assured. Margaret, in fact, we at all times comply with the legislation, and we at all times comply with court docket instances, and we expect that we’ve got the authority to do what we have to do. I am positive that some folks will sue, and that can get found out in court docket. However the actuality is, we’ve got to recollect, why are we on this scenario, Margaret? All these conversations about whether or not it is a short-term layoff or a everlasting layoff – we’re coping with a horrible, chaotic scenario, as a result of Chuck Schumer and some far left Democrats determined to close down the federal government. If they only joined with the average Democrats and the overwhelming majority of Republicans, we are able to open up the federal government, and all of those conversations will not be mandatory.
MARGARET BRENNAN: After I pressed chief Schumer on this program simply final Sunday about this, about reopening the federal government, he stated it is going to take getting everybody in the identical room with the President of america. Solely the 5 folks, together with the President, he stated, can remedy it. Why would not the President insist that lawmakers come again to Washington sit with him and speak this by means of?
VICE PRESIDENT VANCE: Properly, as Chuck Schumer stated, it isn’t all lawmakers. It is the Senate management that actually is driving this shutdown. The Home has already handed a invoice to reopen the federal government. It is the Senate, and once more, it is a far left type of contingent of Senate Democrats who’re protecting the federal government shut down.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However the president says he is a deal maker. Why would not he pressure a deal right here? Why would not he inform Republicans just like the speaker, get your lawmakers again right here, come into my workplace, let’s hammer this factor out.
VICE PRESIDENT VANCE: Margaret, it is a completely truthful query, and the reply is, as a result of this is not a deal making. This is not a negotiation. That is hostage taking. Chuck Schumer has not stated to us, that is what we want. He stated that except you give us what we want, we will shut down the federal government. That may be a completely completely different factor. If Chuck Schumer needs to return into the Oval Workplace or come to my home, he’s welcome to speak about easy methods to repair well being care coverage for Individuals. In fact, we need to decrease insurance coverage premiums. We need to ensure that the skyrocketing well being care prices of the Biden administration begin to stage off and hopefully come down. That is one dialog. However you do not come into the Oval Workplace and say, except you, the President of america, give us all the pieces that I need, I’ll shut down the federal government. I’ll deny low revenue ladies and youngsters their meals advantages. I am not going to pay the troops. That’s what Chuck Schumer has put us within the scenario of doing. We do not negotiate with an individual who has taken all the federal authorities hostage over a well being care coverage dispute. And I believe that fundamental precept you noticed Barack Obama say this to Ted Cruz and quite a few Republicans, we need to discuss well being care coverage, however we’re not going to close down the federal government over this. That is all that Donald Trump is now saying to Chuck Schumer and the far left Democrats: we’re not going to barter over opening the federal government. We’ll negotiate on well being care coverage, however solely when you do your job and open up the folks’s authorities.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, only a fast comply with there. Although, what’s your imaginative and prescient for that well being care coverage? Would you like these tax credit to fade out over time, prolong them after which fade them out? Are you open to creating them everlasting?
VICE PRESIDENT VANCE: Properly, the tax credit go to some folks deservedly. And we expect the tax credit truly go to a variety of waste and fraud inside the insurance coverage business. So we need to ensure that the tax credit go to the individuals who want them. We additionally suppose that Obamacare gave the medical insurance business a variety of ridiculous laws that if we reduce out, we might give folks entry to higher well being care at a decrease value. That is what we’re engaged on. And once more, I believe there’s a variety of settlement, truly Margaret, that is the loopy factor about this. There’s a variety of willingness to barter, a variety of willingness to compromise from each the average Democrats and positively from the White Home. But when the far left Democrats led by Chuck Schumer are going to close down the federal government and refuse to open up the federal government except they get all the pieces they need, that is not a negotiation, that is a hostage taking, and we’re not going to reward that sort of habits from Washington, D.C.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper, Mr. Vice President, thanks to your time this morning. ‘Face the Nation’ can be again in a single minute. Stick with us.
