What Vance Said on Gas Prices, Iran and Immigration at a CBS Town Hall
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Vice President JD Vance told Michigan voters Saturday that the Trump administration's economic and Iran policies will pay off over time, but conceded that gas prices are too high right now. He spoke in an hour-long CBS News town hall hosted by "CBS Evening News" anchor Tony Dokoupil, held in Flat Rock, Michigan, according to Fox News.
The event came weeks before the midterm elections, with Michigan hosting a tight Senate race between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers. Several questioners said they had backed Trump and Vance before, according to CBS News and ABC News.
What did Vance say about gas prices and the cost of living?
A Detroit barber who said he voted for Trump in 2020 and 2024 asked why gas prices are far higher than in Trump's first term, and said he now plans to vote for El-Sayed. Vance pointed to Iranian attacks on oil tankers and commercial shipping. He argued that leaving the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian control would raise prices further. Asked when relief would come, he said prices would fall when the conflict ends, according to CBS News.
Vance also blamed the Biden administration, saying about 20% of American refining capacity went offline during that presidency, according to Fox News. He said the Defense Production Act is being used to restore capacity, but that rebuilding will take time. Dokoupil noted that Trump and Vance have been in office for nearly two years. ABC News reported that Vance, pressed on ownership of the situation, said "we are where we are" and asked what El-Sayed's solution would be.
On the broader economy, a small-business owner asked when ordinary Americans would have more money to spend. Vance said fixing decades of underinvestment in workers and manufacturing will take more than 18 months. He said "we're turning the ship around," according to CBS News.
How did he address the Iran war?
Dokoupil asked why the U.S. has not won decisively. Vance said the U.S. has won "in some ways," but that the enemy also has a say. He said the Iranian nuclear program has been destroyed, according to Fox News, and that the administration is seeking a verifiable, long-term commitment from Iran not to rebuild it.
CBS News reported that 21 U.S. service members have been killed since the war began in late February. Joey Amor, whose wife, Master Sgt. Nicole Amor, was among six soldiers killed by an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait on March 1, asked about failures that led to the deaths and how leaders would be held accountable. Vance said it was the first time he had heard of the issue, according to ABC News, and offered to speak with Amor afterward. He later said troop positioning had been a mistake and had been changed.
What did he say about immigration?
A naturalized citizen who said she voted for Vance asked why he was "scapegoating immigrants," citing his description of some H-1B visa holders as indentured servants. Reports differ on how long ago she immigrated: Fox News said 20 years, ABC News said five. Vance said any imperfection in his rhetoric was his responsibility, but he maintained that he was criticizing companies that bring in workers and sometimes lay off Americans, not the workers themselves.
A nun asked how enforcement tactics, including family separations, fit with their shared faith. Vance said the administration is trying to strike a balance and called it a work in progress. He acknowledged that some officers had made mistakes. He said some cases led to added training or discipline, but that the administration does not publicize them while investigations continue, according to ABC News.
How did he respond on corruption?
Dokoupil cited a Fox News poll in which 60% of voters said they were extremely concerned about corruption. He also raised the resignation of Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece amid allegations that she sought $100,000 from a donor seeking access to officials. She has denied wrongdoing. ABC News noted the nearly $1.2 billion Trump took in from crypto businesses last year, according to a federal filing.
Vance said he sees evidence of corruption in Washington but not from the president or the administration. He said selling access would be wrong and should bring consequences. He also said he would comply with subpoenas if Democrats win control of Congress in January.
What does this mean for voters and household budgets?
Vance offered no timeline for lower gas prices beyond saying they depend on the end of the Iran conflict. CBS News reported that unemployment has stayed low since Trump returned to office, while inflation has remained above the Federal Reserve's 2% target and manufacturing jobs are roughly flat. CBS News polling indicates cost of living is a liability for Republicans in the midterms.
What comes next?
The midterm elections are next month, with Michigan's Senate race among those that could decide control of the chamber. Asked about 2028, Vance said there is "of course" a chance he will not run, adding that he has not decided.
