JD Vance says US destroyed Iran’s nuclear program at town hall

Vice President JD Vance answered questions from Michigan voters during a town hall in Flat Rock, as the state emerges as a key battleground in the fight for control of the Senate in November’s midterms.

The town hall hosted by CBS News took place just weeks before the midterm elections, as Republicans fight to maintain their majorities in the House and Senate. Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Republican candidate Mike Rogers, a former member of the House of Representatives, are vying for the open Michigan Senate seat.

Here are the best moments from the town hall:

Vance blames Biden administration for high gas prices

The first question asked of Vance on Saturday came from a 43-year-old Detroit barber, who asked why gas prices remained significantly higher than during Trump’s first term.

Vance first highlighted Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping and the resulting disruptions in global energy markets, but he also placed blame on the Biden administration.

“That’s actually the main reason why gas prices are so high, because when Joe Biden was president, about 20% of U.S. refining capacity was offline,” Vance said.

Vance said the Trump administration was using the Defense Production Act to help restore domestic refining capacity, but warned that rebuilding that infrastructure would take time.

CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil pushed back against Vance’s attempts to blame Biden, pointing out that Trump and Vance have been in office for nearly two years as Americans continue to deal with high gas prices.

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U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks during a MAGA Inc. super PAC event in Sterling Heights, Michigan August 31, 2026. Saul Loeb/Pool via REUTERS

Vance pressed on White House corruption allegations

Dokoupil shifted the conversation to government corruption, citing a Fox News poll showing that 60 percent of voters were extremely concerned about the issue. He asked Vance if anything he witnessed inside the Trump White House made him feel “disgusted.”

“You certainly see evidence of corruption in Washington, D.C. Do I see evidence of corruption on the part of the President of the United States, on the part of the administration? No, Tony, I just don’t see any,” Vance said.

The exchange came days after Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece, following allegations that she demanded $100,000 from a donor seeking access to Trump administration officials. Guilfoyle has denied any wrongdoing.

Dokoupil pressed Vance on the allegations involving Guilfoyle, as well as his concerns about restrictions on the IRS’s review of Trump’s tax returns and the president’s cryptocurrency income.

Vance said selling access to the White House would be “disgusting and despicable” and that anyone responsible should face the consequences.

Dokoupil then asked whether Vance would comply with subpoenas investigating corruption allegations if Democrats take control of Congress in January.

“Of course, of course I will,” Vance said. “Look, we follow the law. I follow the law.”

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President Donald Trump hired U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle after her failed engagement to his eldest son and now, after Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding, his administration may be forced to fire her. (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Vance acknowledges ‘flawed’ rhetoric on immigration

Vance was confronted about his rhetoric on immigration by a naturalized U.S. citizen who said she voted for the vice president but questioned why the administration was “scapegoating immigrants.”

The voter, who immigrated to the United States 20 years ago, challenged Vance for his characterization of certain workers on H-1B visas as “foreign indentured servants.”

“To the extent that my rhetoric has been flawed here, it’s my fault,” Vance said.

But Vance defended his comments, arguing that his criticism was aimed at companies that exploit foreign workers rather than immigrants themselves. He said the H-1B visa system gives employers too much power over foreign workers whose ability to stay in the country depends on their employment, while also allowing companies to replace U.S. workers with visa holders.

“This is not a criticism of the H-1B visa holder. This is a criticism of a company that brings in a person, that sometimes literally fires an American worker,” Vance said.

Dokoupil asked Vance if his rhetoric and that of the Trump administration dehumanized immigrants.

“My goal here is not to dehumanize any immigrant. And in fact, I like a number of immigrants,” Vance said.

But Vance argued that allowing too many immigrants into the country too quickly could undermine social cohesion and fundamentally change American communities.

“I have neighbors, I have friends of mine who literally don’t know a single person in their neighborhood who speaks the language that they speak,” Vance said. “I don’t think it’s unreasonable for an American citizen to want to share their community with people with whom they have something in common.”

Although the town hall was pre-recorded, Vance turned to X shortly after it aired to share footage showing a building on fire in France amid massive riots. He said what is happening in France is a warning to the United States.

“Western liberals imported the Third World to France and other countries in the name of diversity and compassion. They ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility,” Vance posted on X.

“They were told it would lead to this and they didn’t listen. I pray that France, a beautiful country and extraordinary people, will put an end to this madness before more of its monuments burn,” Vance continued.

A boat floats as commercial ships appear anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Tuesday, October 13, 2026. (Razieh Poudat/ISNA via AP)

Vance claims US destroyed Iran’s nuclear program

Dokoupil asked Vance why the war with Iran lasted longer than the Trump administration expected, asking the vice president: “Why didn’t we win decisively?”

Vance argued that the United States had “in a way” already won the war, saying that U.S. military strikes had succeeded in destroying Iran’s nuclear program, which he described as the main reason Trump launched the operation.

“Have we destroyed Iran’s nuclear program? The answer is yes,” Vance said.

But Vance said the administration was still working to secure a “long-term” and “verifiable” commitment from Iran not to rebuild its nuclear capabilities, while preventing Tehran from disrupting global energy supplies.

Vance said the Iranians responded by terrorizing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil supplies and driving up gas prices.

He claimed gas prices would be “three times higher” if the U.S. Navy did not protect commercial shipping on the waterway.

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Vance blasts El-Sayed for response to synagogue attack

Vance was also urged by a Michigan voter to condemn anti-Semitism within his own political base, including rhetoric from prominent conservative figures such as Tucker Carlson.

The question came from Eddie Rubin, a longtime Democrat whose 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son survived the March attack on Temple Israel in Michigan.

The attacker, an American citizen of Lebanese origin, rammed his van into the entrance to the synagogue before exchanging gunfire with security. The attacker was killed, but no children or synagogue staff were injured.

“I condemn anti-Semitism. I condemn hatred of Jews,” Vance said.

But Vance also turned the conversation to the Michigan Senate race, criticizing Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed for his response to the synagogue attack. Vance highlighted El-Sayed’s remark that “hurting people hurts people.”

“He went around and said, ‘hurt people, hurt people,’ showing empathy, not to you and your family, and that’s where I think we need to show empathy. But show empathy to a guy who almost killed hundreds of innocent children,” Vance said.

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El-Sayed condemned the attack and later apologized for his comments, saying he never intended to justify the violence.