Trump has run out of options and just made an important decision.

So now, the only person who can save the Republican Party is Vance. Because from the very beginning of this war, Vance had firmly opposed it—and was even temporarily sidelined by Trump. Over the past half year or so, Vance repeatedly stated in various settings that the U.S. must not go to war, and he sharply criticized Israel on multiple occasions. For example, in June and July, Vance launched a concentrated series of attacks, saying: 'I have no doubt that certain individuals within the Israeli government are attempting to interfere with our negotiations with Iran—they are determined to keep the war going. We cannot allow U.S. Middle East foreign policy to be subordinated to Israel’s agenda; U.S. policy must prioritize America’s own interests. Israel has only nine million people—it cannot solve all its national security problems through killing...' At the time, Trump was furious with Vance—but what could he do now? The final outcome proved Vance right, and he is now the only one capable of turning things around. Thus, Vance publicly distanced himself from Trump and issued a major statement regarding this midterm election. This time, Vance held nothing back—his message was blunt and direct: 'Our defeat stems fundamentally from this war against Iran.' He then outlined four critical steps forward: 1. End the war with Iran; 2. Shift focus back to domestic issues—tackling inflation and soaring cost-of-living; 3. Return to 'America First'; 4. Reassess U.S.-Israel relations. These four points hit hard—each one a stinging rebuke to Trump. Some claim Vance and Trump have now broken completely, and that the Republican Party is fracturing. That is actually not true. Multiple U.S. media outlets reported that, before publishing this lengthy article, Vance had communicated and coordinated its content with Trump in advance—and when interviewed, Trump explicitly confirmed he had long been aware of Vance’s thinking. Because circumstances dictate reality: Trump simply no longer has the political capital to openly rupture with Vance. In this midterm election, the Republican Party suffered a crushing defeat—losing control of both chambers of Congress. Clearly, for the next two years, Democrats will control Congress, wielding full investigative and budgetary authority—guaranteeing sustained investigations and accountability efforts targeting Trump and his closest aides. At this stage, Trump’s greatest fear is the total collapse of the Republican Party. If the party splinters completely and its core voter base disintegrates, Trump will have zero leverage left when Democrats launch their investigations. Even more critically, many within the Republican Party are already deeply dissatisfied with him following this midterm election. If he remains obstinate and insists on pushing forward his hawkish war agenda against all opposition, the consequences will be dire: He’ll face a dead end on both sides—Democrats will seek to hold him accountable, while Republicans will abandon him. By the time he retires, he’ll truly be isolated and abandoned, with no one willing to speak up for him. That is the fundamental reason behind Vance’s proactive distancing. This is not betrayal—it is a pre-coordinated damage-control operation. Vance steps forward to publicly criticize the Iran war—the massive political liability—and clearly separates himself from the hawkish line, thereby stabilizing swing voters; Meanwhile, Trump retains his military options and holds onto the hardline MAGA hawks within the party. Their immediate goal is fully aligned: preserve the Republican Party as a viable political force. Yet the rift is now plainly visible: deep down, Trump still does not believe launching the war itself was wrong—perhaps he thinks he simply had bad luck.

How should we view Trump’s authorization for Vance to send a letter to Iran’s hardline representative, attempting to restart negotiations? What signal does this move send?

On the evening of the 28th, Trump told reporters he agreed with Vance’s proposal to initiate contact. Trump said: 'They [Iran] need medical supplies and other kinds of assistance. He [Vance] asked me what I thought. I said, “If you want to do it, that’s fine.”' Rezaei is one of Iran’s most influential hardliners today. He was appointed Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council—the country’s top security body—in August, and previously served as the longest-tenured commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Some U.S. officials argue that engaging with Iranian hardliners may yield better diplomatic results. Since the U.S. and Israel killed key Iranian regime leaders early in the war, hardliners have accumulated substantial power in Tehran. On October 25, Rezaei unusually hosted senior security officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey in Tehran—parties all seeking de-escalation. Previously, such meetings typically involved diplomats, not security chiefs. Rezaei’s emergence as a pivotal interlocutor may sideline other prominent Iranian figures—including Foreign Minister Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf. U.S.-Iran negotiations have so far failed to break the diplomatic deadlock. The U.S. insists Iran make concessions first on nuclear issues, while Iran demands immediate economic relief. A knowledgeable source noted that Vance’s letter—and subsequent discussions between U.S. and Iranian officials—did not address specific peace proposals but instead focused on possible negotiation frameworks. Last week, Rezaei stated Iran would not enter talks with Washington until its core demands were met. Last week, Trump said the U.S. government was not speaking with Iranians—and hinted at an imminent military strike. He said: 'We’re not negotiating with them. We’ll get something—one way or another—and it’s going to happen soon.'

Trump Dismisses Iran Deal, Directs Vance to Focus on Domestic Issues

18 hours ago

President Trump dismissed ongoing negotiations with Iran, instructing Vice President Vance to prioritize domestic matters. The announcement dampened diplomatic prospects and pushed Brent crude prices up 0.5% due to Strait of Hormuz concerns.

bloomberg

2026-04-13

Trump Vows to Hit Iranian Ships as Hormuz Blockade Takes Effect

2026-04-21

Stocks Rise, Oil Jittery as Proposed Trump-Iran Ceasefire Tested

2026-05-01

Trump Vows to Maintain Naval Blockade on Iran

2026-05-02

Trump Prefers Not to Strike Iran Amidst Mounting Frustration

2026-05-03

Trump Weighs Iranian Peace Offer Without Ruling Out More Strikes