'Fall guy': Former Trump aide claims JD Vance was 'set up' to blame failed US-Iran MoU

'I think we know now why JD Vance was sent out to go sell the MOU, and at the time, Marco Rubio was nowhere to be found', Caroline Sunshine said
Caroline Sunshine, a former Trump aide, suggested that Vice President JD Vance had been set up to take the blame for the failed MoU and diplomatic tensions (AP, Screenshot/CNN)
Caroline Sunshine, a former Trump aide, suggested that Vice President JD Vance had been set up to take the blame for the failed MoU and diplomatic tensions (AP, Screenshot/CNN)

WASHINGTON, DC: Amid the fresh escalation of violence between the US and Iran, and fear of failing the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a former Trump aide has made a bombshell disclosure, claiming that JD Vance is a mere scapegoat for the fragile deal.

Caroline Sunshine, who served as an aide to President Trump during his first term, suggested on Thursday, July 9, that Vice President Vance was set up to take the blame for the failed MoU and the sensitive diplomatic situation between the two parties.

Former Trump aide questions Marco Rubio's absence

Appearing on CNN’s 'NewsNight', Caroline Sunshine said that Vance was set up to take the blame, as he was sent to media outlets to discuss the 14-point preliminary framework.

Caroline Sunshine said that Vance was set up to take the blame, as he was sent to media outlets to discuss the 14-point preliminary framework.
Caroline Sunshine claimed that JD Vance was set up to take the blame (Screenshot/CNN/X)

“I think we know now why JD Vance was sent out to go sell the MOU, and at the time, Marco Rubio was nowhere to be found,” Sunshine said.

She also noted the string of media interviews given by Vance to discuss the MoU after it was released to the public last month.

JD Vance appeared on ‘The View’, HBO’s ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’, and a podcast by The New York Times, among other programs.

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 07: U.S. Vice President JD Vance (C) and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio look on during a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House on October 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. Carney visited the White House earlier in the year after he was elected prime minister. Carney and Trump will meet in the Oval Office and later have a bilateral lunch where they are expected to discuss a range of topics including U.S. tariffs. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio look on during a meeting between President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House on October 7, 2025, in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“JD Vance was doing interview after interview after interview, going out and selling this deal, and Marco Rubio was, like, what? DJing a wedding, or something?” she said.

“He was nowhere to be found, because as we’ve now seen, Vance, I think, was set up to be, you know, the fall guy for this,” Sunshine added.

Ex-staffer claims Iran has studied Trump 'very well'

During the panel discussion, Sunshine argued Iran had shifted its focus in the conflict from military operations to disrupting the global economy.

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 14: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks he meets with President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador in the Oval Office of the White House on April 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump and Bukele were expected to discuss a range of bilateral issues including the detention of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who has been held in a prison in El Salvador since March 15. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House on April 14, 2025, in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“[Iran] has figured out what we have not figured out, which is that this is an economic war. This war does not have a military solution,” she continued. “We’ve exhausted all the good military options.”

“What Iran has figured out is that war is about studying your opponent, and they’ve studied President Trump very well,” she told CNN’s Abby Phillip.

Sunshine added, “And what they’ve learned is … ‘That’s a really nice stock market you’ve got there. It would be a shame if anything happened to it.’”

Trump said JD Vance would take the blame

President Donald Trump smiles as Vice President JD Vance speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
President Donald Trump smiles as Vice President JD Vance speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

President Donald Trump, around mid-June, jokingly said that Vice President JD Vance would be responsible if the preliminary agreement with Iran failed, while saying he would claim credit if the deal succeeded.

Speaking to reporters, Trump laughed off a question about who would bear responsibility should the agreement collapse.



“If it works out, I’m going to take the credit. If it doesn’t work out, I’m blaming JD,” Trump said.

He then jokingly turned to Vance, adding, “You better be careful, JD. He’s going to turn his plane around and get the hell out of here.”

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