'He's super smart': JD Vance defends Trump to Israeli critics amid Iran deal backlash

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance on Thursday, June 18, defended President Donald Trump amid criticism from Israeli officials and commentators over the recently signed US-Iran memorandum of understanding, arguing that all of the president's decisions are guided by a unique ability to assess people and situations.

Vance said Trump's instincts have repeatedly shaped major policy decisions and should not be underestimated as debate over the agreement continues. The memorandum opens a 60-day negotiation period and includes a ceasefire arrangement involving the Israel-Lebanon conflict.

JD Vance praises Trump's judgment

According to Vance, serving alongside Trump has given him a broader understanding of the president's personality, decision-making style, and leadership approach.

“The thing I guess about Donald Trump is, I remember this in 2016, and in hindsight, it's just so, so dumb. People would say that he was dumb or that he wasn't very smart. He's super smart,” Vance said.

Vance said Trump reads extensively and possesses a unique ability to understand people and situations before making decisions.

“He understands people at an instinctual level better than anybody that I've ever known,” he said. “But he is a very, very, like, from a pure IQ perspective, he's a very smart person.”

Vance's comments came as Trump continued to defend the Iran agreement, which the president has described as a means of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, reducing the risk of broader economic disruption, and creating a framework for future negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.

JD Vance defends US-Iran agreement

Vance also responded directly to criticism from members of the Israeli government who have publicly questioned the agreement and Trump's handling of the conflict. He said some Israeli cabinet officials had not only criticized the deal itself but had also directed personal attacks at the US president.

“My message to them would be twofold. No 1: Donald J Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time,” Vance told reporters.

“If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world,” he added.

Vance further highlighted the scale of American military support for Israel, noting the role of US-supplied defensive systems during recent regional conflicts.

“Over the last three months, two-thirds of the defensive weapons that have protected your homeland have been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars,” he said.

“Anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in.”

The comments came amid growing debate within Israel over the terms of the US-Iran agreement. Several Israeli officials have argued that the framework leaves unresolved questions surrounding Iran's nuclear and missile programs, while others have cautioned against publicly confronting Washington.