Vice President JD Vance drew criticism for his broad statement about America’s military history. He said the United States had “won almost none” of its wars over the past 42 years. His comments came as he defended the Trump administration’s foreign policy record and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Critics and political opponents soon challenged the remarks.
JD Vance faces backlash after claiming the US won ‘almost none’ of its wars before Donald Trump
Vance made the comments during a White House briefing and a CBS Face the Nation interview on Sept. 3. He said, “America has fought a lot of wars since I’ve been alive. 42 years. And we have won almost none of them until Donald J. Trump became the president.” He made the claim while defending Trump’s foreign policy and Hegseth’s leadership. Vance also questioned military planning and political leadership over the past four decades.
Critics quickly challenged Vance’s timeline and pointed to Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The Gulf War ended with U.S. forces driving Iraqi troops out of Kuwait. The criticism also came as the United States remained involved in the conflict with Iran.
Vance argued that the U.S. destroyed Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and achieved its main goals. Former President Barack Obama criticized the administration, citing the campaign’s estimated $30 billion-plus cost. Obama also highlighted depleted U.S. munition stockpiles and increased global economic instability. Vance, meanwhile, said he “wouldn’t call” the current conflict with Iran a war, despite its continuation into a seventh month.
On Morning Joe, MS NOW senior national security adviser David Rohde challenged Vance’s comments. Rohde said, “George H. W. Bush would disagree.” He added that Bush “successfully drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait” and called it “extraordinary” to say that no presidents won wars and that every president for 40 years failed.
Vance’s remarks came shortly after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned and as the Iran conflict entered its seventh month. Driscoll’s departure followed months of reported tensions with Hegseth.
