Vance and Rubio take different approaches as Iran tests their 2028 prospects

AP News ^ | Updated 4:06 PM CDT, June 30, 2026 | MATTHEW LEE

[E. Pluribus Unum]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio appear to be staking out differing approaches to carrying out President Donald Trump’s national security agenda as the possible 2028 presidential rivals jostle for position in a divided Republican Party.

With vastly different backgrounds and policy experience, they have moved along separate paths to stake out territory: Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants with a long history in the Senate and major interest in Latin America, and Vance, a child of the Midwest and Marine Corps veteran who served in the Senate for only two years before being tapped as Trump’s 2024 running mate, with a message of opposing foreign wars.

While deferential to each other — and with the White House and State Department denying any suggestion of a rift — Vance and Rubio appear the most divergent on the Middle East.

In discussing Iran, Vance has several times been critical of Israel and its actions in Lebanon, saying Trump has been frustrated by Israeli actions against the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah that have angered Iran and made negotiations with Tehran more difficult.

Rubio, meanwhile, has remained supportive of Israel or held his tongue, particularly over the situation in Lebanon — an issue he has taken the lead on and resulted in a preliminary framework agreement last week.

Vance takes the lead on Iran negotiations and Rubio on Lebanon

“The talk about differences is not idle speculation,” said Dan Fried, a former assistant secretary of state and ambassador to Poland who is now with the Atlantic Council, a Washington think tank. “There is definitely something to it.”

The White...

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: jdvance; leftistsource; marcorubio; matthewlee; tds; tdstrolls

[Tell It Right]

I thought the AP was convinced that Trump would try to run for a 3rd term. LOL

[Sacajaweau]

Vance should be silent. He’s a writer and an orator but he’s no diplomat. IMHO

[Eli Kopter]

Vance is the worst person to be anywhere near negotiations. He doesn’t understand that the IRGC is different from Persia. They are Muslim Thugs, hell bent on forcing themselves on the whole world, and unable to be reasoned with. He said today, “Iran’s denial of peace talks is a “Persian Negotiating Tactic”. Since the IRGC has been in control of Iran for longer than he has lived, he probably doesn’t understand Persians, or Iranians, Israelis. I will be voting for Marco Rubio instead of the ‘candidate’ they are pushing.