Vice President JD Vance once again demonstrated steady leadership and deep loyalty to President Donald Trump this week, navigating a delicate moment as Elon Musk’s recent public comments stirred headlines across the political landscape.
In a podcast appearance taped Thursday and released Saturday, Vance responded in real time to Musk’s attacks with composure, clarity, and a principled defense of the President.
His remarks reflected not only a personal commitment to Trump but a broader understanding of the importance of unity and focus as the administration works to pass its historic economic legislation and deliver on its promises to the American people.
The Vice President’s calm and thoughtful approach was no accident. Sources familiar with the day’s events confirmed that Vance and President Trump had discussed how best to address Musk’s comments.
President Trump, always thinking strategically, encouraged Vance to speak diplomatically and to avoid fueling further division. True to the President’s guidance, Vance delivered exactly that tone—providing a clear defense of Trump, rejecting Musk’s baseless accusations, and maintaining a measured posture that reinforces the administration’s confidence and strength.
During the podcast, hosted by comedian Theo Von at Kid Rock’s restaurant in Nashville, Vance was first shown Musk’s now-deleted post suggesting that Trump should be impeached and that Vance should replace him.
The Vice President’s immediate response was to reject the notion outright. "Oh, my God," he said, shaking his head. "See, this is what I’m talking about."
Without taking the bait to joke or speculate about replacing the President—a man he serves loyally—Vance remained firm. "This stuff is just not helpful," he said of Musk’s inflammatory remarks.
Vance then expanded on the principle that guides his thinking. "Politics is a place where people stab each other in the back. You can’t get anything done unless you’re all on the same team and you’re actually committed to getting stuff done together," he said.
"The idea that the President should be impeached — I’m sorry, it’s insane." With these words, Vance sent a powerful message of loyalty and discipline, reinforcing that in the Trump administration, loyalty and unity are essential values.
The podcast taping took place as Musk continued posting harsh criticism of Trump’s domestic policy agenda, particularly the "one big, beautiful bill," the President’s sweeping tax and spending package.
Earlier in the day, Vance had sat with President Trump in the Oval Office as reporters asked about Musk’s criticisms. The two had multiple conversations that day, with Trump offering guidance to Vance on how to handle the situation publicly.
The President, known for his strategic patience, made it clear that he did not want his team drawn into a prolonged public spat with Musk.
Vance’s loyalty to the President was also evident when Musk’s most outrageous claim was raised during the podcast—his baseless suggestion that Trump is implicated in the so-called Epstein files.
Vance, seeing the post for the first time during the taping, responded firmly. "Absolutely not. Donald Trump didn’t do anything wrong with Jeffrey Epstein," he said.
"Whatever the Democrats and the media says about them, that’s totally BS." Vance correctly reminded listeners that such wild accusations serve no purpose other than to distract from the real work being done for the American people.
Importantly, Vance maintained a diplomatic tone throughout. He declined to launch personal attacks on Musk, in keeping with the disciplined strategy discussed with President Trump. "I’m the Vice President to President Trump.
My loyalties are always going to be with the President," Vance said, making his allegiance clear. At the same time, he acknowledged Musk’s past contributions, calling him "an incredible entrepreneur," and praised Musk’s leadership in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been instrumental in rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government.
Yet Vance also made it clear that Musk’s recent behavior was a mistake. "Really, man, I think it’s a huge mistake for him to go after the President like that," he said.
"I think that if he and the President are in some blood feud, most importantly it’s gonna be bad for the country, but I don’t think it’s gonna be good for Elon either."
This measured warning reflected not only Vance’s loyalty to the President but his understanding of the broader stakes involved. The Trump administration is focused on delivering results, and distractions driven by personal feuds only serve to undermine that mission.
Vance also provided valuable perspective on Musk’s motivations, portraying the billionaire’s recent outburst as driven in part by frustration. "Elon’s new to politics, right?" Vance said.
"His businesses are being attacked nonstop. They’re literally, like, fire-bombing some of his cars." Acknowledging that Musk has faced real challenges, Vance nonetheless reinforced that turning those frustrations into personal attacks on the President was both unwise and counterproductive.
On the "one big, beautiful bill" that sparked much of the controversy, Vance stood firmly behind the administration’s agenda. "It’s a good bill. It’s not a perfect bill," he said.
He also rejected complaints from some House members who claimed they lacked time to review the legislation. "The idea that people haven’t had an opportunity to actually read it is ridiculous," Vance said.
His clear support for the bill reflects the administration’s confidence that this legislation will further advance the pro-growth, America First policies that have already delivered tremendous gains for American workers and families.
As President Trump told NBC News on Saturday, he has no interest in attempting to repair the relationship with Musk at this time. While Musk has since deleted several of his more inflammatory posts, including the Epstein-related accusation and the call to impeach Trump, the criticism of the bill remains on his X account.
Throughout it all, Vance has remained aligned with the President and focused on the bigger picture: continuing to advance the Trump administration’s historic agenda.
It is also worth noting that Vance and Musk have shared a positive relationship in the past. Multiple sources reported that Musk was among those who supported Vance’s selection as Trump’s running mate, alongside conservative leaders such as Donald Trump Jr., Steve Bannon, and Tucker Carlson.
But as Vance made clear, loyalty to the President comes first. "Is this war actually in the interest of the country? I don’t think so," Vance said. "So, hopefully, Elon figures it out, comes back into the fold."
Vance’s handling of this challenging moment only reinforced the qualities that made him the ideal choice as President Trump’s running mate: loyalty, discipline, composure under pressure, and a clear-eyed understanding of what truly matters—delivering results for the American people.
His performance in the podcast reflected not only personal loyalty to the President but a broader loyalty to the Trump movement and the values it represents.
As the administration continues to advance its transformative agenda, the steady partnership of President Trump and Vice President Vance remains one of its greatest strengths.
Together, they are leading a disciplined, focused team that is delivering real progress for the American people. Vance’s principled leadership this week has only further solidified his role as a key pillar of that team.
