Vance refuses to abandon 'friend' Tucker Carlson but admits he's 'just wrong' about Trump

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance on Thursday, September 3, pushed back against pressure to distance himself from Tucker Carlson, describing the conservative commentator as a friend while acknowledging that he strongly disagrees with some of Carlson’s attacks on President Donald Trump.

Vance said political differences should not automatically destroy personal relationships, even as he directly criticized Carlson’s views on Trump and his apparent support for Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan.

JD Vance draws line over Tucker Carlson

Vance made it clear that he has no intention of abandoning Carlson simply because the former Fox News host has taken positions that conflict with the Trump administration.

“Tucker is a friend of mine,” Vance said. “I’m not gonna play the game where I throw friends under the bus because I have political disagreements!”

At the same time, Vance did not attempt to disguise the extent of his differences with Carlson.

He said the commentator had made statements about Trump that were simply incorrect in his view, highlighting that their friendship does not mean they agree politically.

“He’s said some things about the president that are just wrong,” Vance said.

The vice president specifically pointed to Carlson’s apparent support for Abdul El-Sayed, who is running against Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan.

Vance sharply rejected Carlson’s assessment of El-Sayed and argued that Michigan voters should elect Rogers instead.

“I’d like to have a non-crazy person like Mike Rogers representing Michigan in the United States Senate, rather than a crazy person like El-Sayed,” Vance said.

Below is the video that shows Vance defending Tucker Carlson even as he criticizes his remarks against President Trump.

JD Vance recalls attacks on his wife

Vance also explained why he believes political disagreements should not determine personal friendships.

Reflecting on the 2024 campaign, he recalled how difficult it was for him when people attacked his wife, particularly when criticism came from people who personally knew her.

“I remember when I became the vice presidential nominee, one of the hardest things for me personally is not when people attacked me, but when people attacked my wife, including friends of hers who knew her heart, who knew what a good person she was,” Vance said.

He said the experience reinforced his belief that political disputes can become unnecessarily destructive when they are allowed to dictate personal relationships.

“And I remember thinking to myself, what a travesty it is that in the United States of America, we let political disagreements define who our friends are going to be and not going to be,” Vance said.

Tucker Carlson's feud with Trump

Vance's remarks come as Carlson has become increasingly outspoken against Trump, particularly over the administration’s approach to the war in Iran.

Carlson, who was once one of Trump’s most prominent media allies, has increasingly challenged the president since the conflict began.

Carlson’s recent criticism, however, went considerably further when he openly called for Trump's removal from office.

He recently argued that a president considering the first use of nuclear weapons should be removed from office, directly raising the question of whether Trump should remain president.

The video below shows Tucker Carlson suggesting that an “unfit president” deserves removal from office.

Those comments have put Carlson at odds with Trump at a time when divisions over US foreign policy, particularly the Iran war, have become increasingly visible within the Republican Party.