Last week, we got an early look at the competition to take over from US President Donald Trump in the Republican Party, and it unfolded in a very typical Trump style when Vice-President J. D. Vance found himself briefly taking on press secretary duties.
During his hour-long session with the White House press corps, he made comments scolding reporters and provided the usual denials expected from ambitious politicians.
“This is crazy. You guys have got to behave yourself,” he said to the journalists, before adding: “I’m not a future candidate, I’m a vice-president. And I really like my job.”
Vance’s appearance at the podium on Tuesday came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is likely to run against him for president, had a similar moment just two weeks prior. The race has gained attention in China after Rubio visited Beijing for the first time with Trump despite facing sanctions back in 2020 due to his strong stance on China and criticism of human rights issues in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Tibet as a senator-claims that Beijing refutes.
Initial reactions from this press secretary face-off seemed to favor Rubio, who engaged playfully with reporters by joking around and quoting hip-hop lyrics while many of Vance’s attempts at humor didn’t quite hit home.
US Vice-President J. D. Vance fields questions at a press briefing at the White House on May 19. Photo: EPA
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