JD Vance praises US forces for hitting 'a target about the size of a washing machine' during Iran strikes

WASHINGTON, DC: JD Vance was all praises for US troops after they bombed three Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend.
The vice president hailed President Donald Trump’s “decisive action to destroy the program” on ABC’s ‘This Week’ as well as applauded the armed forces for flying on a 30-hour non-stop flight and striking “a target about the size of a washing machine,” as reported by Fox News.
JD Vance says US military ‘accomplish[ed] a very core American national objective’
Vance shared on the program, “No military in the world has the training, the skills, and the equipment to do what these guys did last night. I know the president and I are both very proud of them, and I think what they did was accomplish a very core American national objective.”
“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapons program. The president's been very clear about this, and thanks to the bravery and competence and skill of our great pilots and everybody who supported this mission, we took a major step forward for that national objective last night,” the 40-year-old added.
God bless the United States Military — the greatest force for freedom the world has ever known. 🇺🇸🦅 pic.twitter.com/n5zjcsu3o4
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 22, 2025
However, when host Jonathan Karl asked Vance, “Can you say definitively that Iran’s nuclear program has now been destroyed?”, he replied, “I don't want to get into sensitive intelligence here, but we know that we set the Iranian nuclear program back substantially last night.”
The Marine Corps veteran also dismissed the prospect of the US going into war with Iran as he asserted, “We're at war with Iran's nuclear program,” as reported by the Daily Mail.
Vance, while speaking with 'Meet the Press' moderator Kristen Welker, further asserted that striking Iranian nuclear sites didn't amount to a declaration of war, Daily Beast reported.
Walker asked, "Is the United States now at war with Iran?"
He answered, "No, Kristen, we’re not at war with Iran."

Gen Dan Caine refrains from revealing details of damage Iranian nuke sites
President Donald J. Trump in The Situation Room, June 21, 2025 pic.twitter.com/T0ECocToiC
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 22, 2025
This came after earlier on Sunday, June 22, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine had claimed that the battle damage assessment “is still pending, and it would be way too early for me to comment on what may or may not still be there,” as per CNN.

Trump 'fully trusts' Pete Hegseth, says Karoline Leavitt
Meanwhile, it has been said that the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, played a vital role in the Iran operation.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “Secretary Hegseth played a vital role in this extremely successful operation and the president fully trusts his leadership at the Pentagon.”
“He was by the president’s side every step of the way, and the president fully trusts Pete’s leadership at the Pentagon,” she added.