His second in command expressed some of the most grave concerns when President Donald Trump first brought up the possibility of conflict with Iran. Vice President JD Vance, a former Marine who gained political notoriety for opposing foreign wars, advised against starting yet another unexpected fight in the Middle East.
But Vance changed his mind when it became clear that Trump was still in favor of military action. He argued that in order to minimize American losses and stop Iran from striking first, Trump should launch a swift and forceful attack.
According to two people with knowledge of the situation, the vice president’s change in direction was a reflection of how Trump’s closest advisors approached a conflict that few at first saw as necessary but that all of them ultimately supported.
According to six aides, advisers, and others with knowledge of the situation, many of the most vocal pro-war voices as Trump considered war came from allies outside the White House rather than from individuals in his inner circle. Quieter cries for caution were finally drowned out by those more outspoken actors.
Alongside Vance, Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, outlined the possible drawbacks of attacking Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio first provided only mediocre support since he was already preoccupied with handling the fallout from the raid on Venezuela in January. Additionally, Susie Wiles, the chief of staff, had been increasingly politically oriented in recent months, planning a midterm campaign centered on domestic issues that she believed had been eclipsed by Trump’s foreign policy ventures.
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