Vance and Rubio stir restlessness, while Hagel remains steadfast—Trump: He's exceptional
Following the midterm election losses, tensions have surfaced within the Trump administration.
First, Vice President Vance published a lengthy article seemingly seeking to distance himself from Trump, offering a detailed analysis of the midterm defeat with criticism directed at the Iran conflict.
The broader political landscape interprets Vance’s statement as an effort to shed political baggage ahead of the 2028 presidential race. His deep alignment with Trump, however, has become his most significant liability.
Trump appeared unfazed by the remarks, telling reporters that Vance had never supported military action against Iran, and that the war had indeed driven up oil prices—a fact he has consistently acknowledged.
Another key figure in the administration, Secretary of State Rubio, has also been reported to be planning to step down in order to focus on his potential 2028 campaign.
Rubio denied the reports, reiterating his commitment to serve out his full term, citing his dedication to the role. As for the 2028 race, he stated that he is not discussing it now and would prefer not to revisit the topic in the future.
Compared to Vance’s direct tone, Rubio’s response was notably more measured. Yet underlying the remarks lies clear dissatisfaction with the Iran conflict. The Democratic Party’s sweeping victory under conditions of disarray suggests that the administration’s missteps provided an opening—effectively handing advantages to its opponents.
As prominent contenders for the next presidential election, both Vance and Rubio appear to be calculating their next moves. Only Defense Secretary Hagel has remained consistently aligned with Trump.
In the face of congressional calls for impeachment, Hagel continues to defend the Iran campaign, describing it as “brave and emblematic” in U.S. military history. He dismissed the impeachment efforts as a “ploy” orchestrated by Democrats.
Regarding controversial reforms within the Pentagon, Hagel expressed confidence that the backlash they have drawn confirms their correctness and effectiveness.
Trump has publicly backed Hagel, praising his performance as “excellent” and stating there are no plans to replace him at this stage.
While others scramble to abandon ship, some remain anchored—Hagel being one of those who cannot swim.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881086675564684/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.