GOP Turns on JD Vance over Iran Deal

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast: "GOP Turns on JD Vance over Iran Deal"

Episode Date: June 18, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas (MeidasTouch Network)
Summary Prepared By: Podcast Summarizer AI

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Episode Overview

In this episode, the MeidasTouch brothers dive deep into the dramatic fallout over the controversial Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) negotiated by Vice President JD Vance under the Trump administration. As Trump and MAGA Republicans rush to distance themselves from the Iran deal, JD Vance finds himself at the center of political infighting, finger-pointing, and even accusations of espionage. The brothers dissect reactions from conservative media, highlight emerging leaks, and add their trademark mix of sharp insight and humor.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. MAGA Turn on JD Vance for "Surrender" Iran Deal

• [02:06] Ron Filipkowski (guest): Announces the episode’s main controversy—JD Vance, Trump’s VP, is blamed by MAGA Republicans in Congress for the so-called "surrender deal" with Iran.
  • A Republican source says Vance “erased all of Trump’s military victories… [and] negotiated his way to a loss.”
• Donald Trump privately and publicly distances himself, signaling he’ll take credit if the deal is a success, or blame JD Vance if it fails.
  • Quote: “If it works out, I’m gonna take credit. If it doesn’t work out, I’m blaming JD.” (Trump, [07:40])

2. Media and Party Leadership Point Fingers

• Fox News and right-wing media amplify the message, with hosts like Brian Kilmeade and Ben Shapiro clearly designating Vance as the “fall guy.”
  • Kilmeade: “This is his deal… and Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner together. I just hope they didn’t let the President down.” ([05:12])
  • Ben Shapiro: “The Vice President… has not well served the President.” ([06:36])
• Trump even forgets Vance’s name at the G7, referring to him as “a man, a person, a good person.” ([06:50])

3. Policy Details & Criticisms of the Iran Deal

• Ben Shapiro details the failures of the MOU: Objectives like ending Iran’s nuclear enrichment, halting ballistic missiles, ending terrorist support, and permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz were not achieved.
  • Quote: “Not only is that not in the deal, the deal appears to have a provision allowing Iran and Oman to attempt to toll the straits after 60 days… [Iran receives] relief in their ability to ship oil out of Iran.” ([05:37])
• Trump is described as making excuses at the G7, suggesting Iran needs what other Middle Eastern nations have, leading to visible disgust from Marco Rubio. ([10:36]–[11:45])
  • Observation: "Rubio looks like he is at a funeral." ([11:00])

4. Internal Drama: Rubio, Ratcliffe, and Israel Weigh In

• Trump’s choice of Vance over Rubio is slammed by both US and Israeli officials.
• Reports of Israeli PM Netanyahu and Mossad accusing Vance of leaking Mossad secrets to Turkey, essentially labeling him a spy for Turkey and Arab states. ([12:00], [15:33])
• CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Rubio blame Vance for getting played in the negotiations and embarrass Trump.
  • Leaks: Show Murdoch (Fox News owner) favored Rubio over Vance as negotiator during an October 2025 dinner. ([12:45])

5. Character Attacks and Political Machinations

• Social media and right-wing influencers attack Vance, lumping him with Kushner and Witkoff as “traitors” for their supposed soft treatment of Iran and alleged business conflicts of interest in the region ([11:45]).
  • Example post: “I blame JD Vance, Jared Kushner and Steve Whitcop. Weak and pathetic men. I hope Trump comes to realize the disaster… They’re traitors.”
• Leaks also claim Vance pushed for the release of Epstein files as a distraction, further complicating intra-party trust. ([16:30])
  • Ron Filipkowski: "Interesting timing to have those leaks out... we know that Donald Trump is certainly worried about those Epstein files being released." ([16:00])

6. JD Vance’s Public Response and Image Management

• Vance attempts to shore up support with a book tour for “Communion,” pitching it at political rallies in a seemingly “salesman” fashion. ([13:53]–[14:20])
• Runs with the “I serve a very healthy Donald Trump, but I’ll be ready if tragedy strikes” line, interpreted by the hosts as double-edged or even darkly sarcastic. ([14:55]–[15:33])
  • Quote: “If tragedy strikes, I will be ready to fill in. Doesn’t that tell you everything right there?” (JD Vance, [14:31])

7. Implications and Moving Forward

• The episode ends pondering whether Vance will be forced out as VP and the fate of key Trump cabinet members as the fallout continues.
• Hosts highlight “the regime” rhetoric used by Vance as essentially a self-own, since Trump and Vance are the regime in power. ([17:16]–[17:48])
  • JD Vance: “If you want to make America great… vote against the crazy leadership in Washington, D.C.” ([17:21])
  • Ron Filipkowski: “Okay, that’s you, that’s Donald.” ([17:16])

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Donald Trump (joking about blame)
  "This way, if it works out, I'm going to take the credit. If it doesn't work out, I'm blaming JD." ([07:40])
• Ben Shapiro (on the deal’s failures)
  "There were effectively five goals set… not a single one is in the deal." ([05:37])
• Ron Filipkowski (on Rubio's reaction)
  "Rubio looks like he is at a funeral as Donald Trump is blabbering." ([11:00])
• On Israeli intelligence leaks:
  "Israeli intelligence… is leaking… their view that JD Vance is a spy for Turkey and for Arab nations." ([15:33])
• JD Vance (on being VP)
  "I serve under Donald Trump, who is very healthy … but the thing that I—" ([15:00])
• Ron Filipkowski (on the intra-GOP feud):
  “Will they try to get JD fired and no longer be the VP? Will JD Try to get Trump Cabinet members fired? To be continued.” ([17:48])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:06] – Ron Filipkowski opens discussion on JD Vance being targeted for the Iran deal
• [05:12] – Fox News/Kilmeade shifts blame from Trump to Vance
• [05:37] – Ben Shapiro details the perceived failures of the Iran deal
• [06:50] – Trump “forgets” Vance’s name at G7; humiliates VP on world stage
• [07:40] – Trump jokes about blaming Vance
• [11:00] – Rubio’s public discomfort with Trump’s Iran remarks
• [11:45] – Right-wing and Israeli accounts attack Vance as foreign agent
• [13:53] – Vance turns rally into a book promotion
• [14:31] – Vance’s ambiguous comments about being “ready” to step in as President
• [15:33] – Further leaks about Israeli suspicions and Epstein files
• [17:21] – JD Vance’s self-contradictory campaign rhetoric

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Conclusion

This high-energy, detail-rich episode unpacks how the GOP, right-wing media, and even Israeli leadership are scapegoating JD Vance for the controversial Iran deal forged by the Trump administration. The hosts connect the dots on leaks, political betrayals, and the spectacle of power struggles, making for an urgent—sometimes darkly funny—snapshot of MAGA-world dysfunction. Listeners get a real sense of the stakes, the players, and the chaos enveloping the Republican Party.

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Transcript

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[Ron Filipkowski]

JD Vance is already being thrown under the bus for the memorandum of understanding between the Trump regime and Iran. Here is what we're learning. Kelly Meyer from News Nation reports that leadership of the MAGA Republicans in the House and the Senate are placing all the blame on J.D. vance for what they call as a terrible deal of surrender with Iran. One congressional Republican is telling Kelly Meyer, conservatives on the Hill are stunned that Vance would erase all of Trump's military victories. In such a terrible deal, Trump effectively won the war. And at the 11th hour, as Trump was about to declare a total victory and Get Iran to surrender. Van just. Vance just negotiated his way to a loss. Earlier today, Donald Trump, with a smile, said, if it works out, I'm gonna take credit. If it doesn't work out, I'm blaming JD and to be clear, that was state regime media, which calls itself Fox, asking Donald Trump that question and planting that seed in his head. Let's just blame JD for it, Donald. And that's what state regime media was going with all day. I'll show you that in just a moment. Also, Rupert Murdoch had previously told Donald Trump that he much more would rather have Rubio be in charge of negotiations than JD V. Trump praised the deal reached with Iran during his Visit to the G7. In France, he signed the copy of the MOU tonight at Versailles. I mean, quite literally repeating the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I in German humiliation. And that's where Donald Trump signed this. You can't make it up. Trump selected Vance to lead the Iran talks over Rubio. And now Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth are all pointing the finger at J.D. vance and saying. Saying he's to blame. Also in Israel, you have Netanyahu and his Mossad basically saying that J.D. vance is compromised, that J.D. vance was leaking information from the Mossad to Turkey. They're basically accusing J.D. vance of being a spy for Turkey and the Arab nations. And they are making a concerted effort to dig up dirt on JD Vance to try to destroy his life. Right now, let me show you what they're doing. On state regime media, which calls itself Fox, you have Brian Kilmeade saying that this terrible deal was the product of JD Vance, Steve Whitcoff and Jared Kushner, who just destroyed Donald Trump's legacy. I think Donald Trump destroyed any legacy a long time ago. His legacy will be one of being the most vile piece of trash that ever walked this planet. But here is what Kilmeade had to say. Let's play. All I'm going to say is the vice President was here, did a wonderful job on every outlet, including the View, but this is his deal. It's not the President's deal, and it's his deal. And Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner together. I just hope they didn't let the President down, because the president's putting a lot of stock in them.

[Donald Trump]

Right? And he has to.

[Ron Filipkowski]

He can't do everything himself. I just hope they didn't let him down.

[Ben Shapiro]

All right.

[Ron Filipkowski]

And this is what state regime media, which calls itself Fox, was running with all day, they brought on Ben Shapiro who said, yeah, J.D. vance did not serve Donald, Donald Trump well, this is all J.D. vance's fault. Here, play this clip.

[Ben Shapiro]

It said, this MOU appears to be, just from the text, a disaster that does not achieve any of the actual signal goals that were set by the administration at the beginning. There were effectively five goals that were set by the administration at the beginning. One was ending the nuclear program, not just nuclear weapons, no nuclear enrichment, zero enrichment. That is not in the deal. Ballistic missiles ended. That is not in the deal. And the President today suggested that ballistic missiles should actually continue to be held by the Iranians because the Saudis, our allies, also hold ballistic missiles. Then you have the support of terrorism. That is not part of the deal. Anything that looks like an attempt to end terrorism, a permanent opening of the Strait of Hormuz toll free. Not only is that not in the deal, the deal appears to have a provision allowing Iran and Oman to attempt to toll the straits after 60 days. And then finally the idea that Iran would receive some sort of sanctions relief after all of those things happen. We are already seeing from day one relief in their ability to ship oil out of Iran. In my opinion, the Vice President of the United States, the chief negotiator on this particular project, has not well served the President.

[Ron Filipkowski]

So notably Donald Trump, when he was at the G7, forgot J.D. vance, his name. He called him a man, a person, a good person. JD Here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

A man, a person, a good person. JD Made a statement. It was a perfect statement.

[Ron Filipkowski]

And here's the moment where you had state regime media, which calls itself Fox, asking Donald Trump about the MOU and saying, you know, are you gonna blame JD Vance if it doesn't work out? Well, and Donald Trump said yesterday, yeah, if it doesn't work out, I'm blaming JD Says it in that weird kind of demented way of his. Let's play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

I'd rather this is a memorandum of understanding. It's very important, but it might not be the kind of a document that I should be sending.

[Ron Filipkowski]

There's some element to this where you

[Sean Hannity]

send the vice president. If it works out, great.

[Ron Filipkowski]

You look like a genius for sending him.

[Sean Hannity]

And if it doesn't work out, it's the vice president.

[Donald Trump]

I like that idea. Sure. This way, if it works out, I'm going to take the credit. If it doesn't work out, I'm blaming J.D. you better be careful, J.D. he's going to turn his plane around and get the hell out of here. Yeah. I like that idea. I think it's a good idea. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you.

[Ron Filipkowski]

I want to remind you as well that back on April 1, 2026, Donald Trump also said it doesn't go well. I'm going to blame JD. This is from April 1st. Let's play this clip as well.

[Donald Trump]

He's working on the. The deal, right? How's that moving? Is it okay? The big deal, you see it happening. So if it doesn't happen, I'm blaming jd. Vince, if it does happen, I'm taking full credit. No, I think it'll be. I think it has to happen. I think they're desperate.

[Podcast Host]

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[Ron Filipkowski]

can see behind Donald Trump when Trump is talking about this deal and Trump is talking about how Iran should be able to have enriched uranium, Iran should be able to have ballistic missiles. They should have everything that other Middle east nations have. Donald Trump saying, you'll see how furious Marco Rubio is behind him. Rubio looks like he is at a funeral.

[Podcast Host]

Funeral.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Listen to what Trump is saying. But let's look at Rubio's expression as Donald Trump is blabbering. Let's play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Sir, you shouldn't let them have any missile. I said, well what am I going to do? I'm going to let Saudi Arabia have missiles, but they can't have them. Yes sir. It doesn't work that way. You know it doesn't work that way. And missiles aren't the problem. Missiles are. They hurt a little location, but they don't blow up the planet. So the Gulf nations will address the non nuclear issues as we'll be talking about the ballistic missiles and we'll talk also about the terrorist proxies that they have that we don't want that to happen. But I want to thank our partners

[Ron Filipkowski]

in both Pakistan and meanwhile, you have the neocon, Netanyahu propagandists, the big right wing accounts are all saying the following. I could show you hundreds of posts like thousands of posts like I'll just show you one exemplar. You have this account right over here with the American and Israeli flag in it, AK74STL. I stand with Marco Rubio, Hegseth and every other principled conservative who thinks this deal is complete horseshit. I blame JD Vance, Jared Kushner and Steve Whitcop. Weak and pathetic men. I hope Trump comes to realize the disaster that is and how he has been led astray. You have all of the propagandists close to Netanyahu and Israel, his versions of the Sean Hannity also slamming JD Vance as the devil and saying that JD Vance managed to manipulate Donald Trump to do this and Witkoff and Kushner cared more about their own personal business dealings with Arab nations based upon their private equity funds in the region. That they did this over us. Could you believe it? They're traitors. We need Rubio and Hegseth and Ratcliffe to go and push J.D. vance out. That's what you're getting right now. Now we are hearing this as well. This is what Axios previously reported, and these are the types of leaks coming out right now. At a private dinner in October 2025, Donald Trump asked Rupert Murdoch, can you compare JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio? Murdoch was noticeably warmer toward Rubio. What do you think of J.D. trump as well? I think J.D. has potential. Well, what do you think about Rubio? Rubio is brilliant. Murdoch said. By the way, just again, look at Rubio's face right there. What was JD Doing earlier today? He was selling his book called Communion, and he was, like, selling this. Like he was, you know, trying to sell Donald Trump's $60 sticky Bibles. This is what JD Vance was doing. Let's play it.

[Sean Hannity]

I've been on the show for all of a half an hour is appropriate. This is about faith and religion because y' all need Jesus.

[Ron Filipkowski]

And then J.D. vance was turning a political rally into a sales pitch for his book today as well. You can see that right here. Let's play that clip.

[Sean Hannity]

Communion by J.D. vance. Available everywhere books are sold starting yesterday. So go out and get that book, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you. We got brick soup man here. Amy. Celebrity in his own right. It's good to see you guys.

[Ron Filipkowski]

And I'll remind you as well what JD Vance has been saying recently. And he's been saying this consistently for over a year. He's been saying.

[Podcast Host]

And he.

[Ron Filipkowski]

And I think he says this sarcastically. With the wink and a nod, he goes. And I'll show you when he did a little bit ago, where he said, donald Trump is very healthy. I've never seen a man more healthy than Mr. Trump. He's a very healthy man. But if tragedy strikes, if something happens to him, I will be ready to fill in. Doesn't that tell you everything right there? Here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Go with the flow. Pretty well. Do you have quiet moments? You think about that?

[Sean Hannity]

Honestly, Sean, I try not to. I mean, one, I serve under Donald Trump, who is very healthy.

[Ron Filipkowski]

He cast a pretty big shadow.

[Sean Hannity]

He casts a big shadow. But if I served under Joe Biden, I'd probably be worried every minute of every day that he was gonna croak, and then I'd have to become president. But because I serve a president.

[Donald Trump]

Okay, did it just happen?

[Sean Hannity]

Like, I'd never be able to sleep. I'd always have my cell phone as loud as possible. But no, the president won. You know, he's got a lot of energy. He's extremely healthy. So I don't think about that. Obviously, that's part of the job, is you've got to be ready if tragedy strikes. But the thing that I.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Meanwhile, we know that Israeli intelligence, as I noted, is leaking. Essentially, their view that J.D. vance is. Is a spy for Turkey and for Arab nations is basically what they're saying, that he. I mean, they're saying he leaked classified information from the Mossad to Erdogan of Turkey to undermine Israel and the Mossad. That's what they're saying. And then we have leaks from CIA Director Ratcliffe and Rubio and Hegseth saying that they warned that Iran is never gonna follow through with the terms of the deal that Vance negotiated. And Vance got played and you got played. And the C is saying, donald, you're in a world of hurt. Also, we're getting these leaks out that it was J.D. vance who wanted the Epstein files release. Interesting timing to have those leaks out. The leaks are saying that J.D. vance said, we know that Donald Trump's past is filled with disgusting allegations and. And jury verdicts where he's been found liable for sexual assault. So let's just release all of the Epstein files. It is interesting whether or not. Whether or not JD Vance is really doing that, that we're having all these leaks right now of Vance being. Being pointed to as the person that release all the files when we know that Donald Trump is certainly worried about those Epstein files being released. And then you have JD Vance saying the other day, if you want to make America great again, you gotta vote against the crazy leadership in Washington. Okay, that's you, that's Donald.

[Sean Hannity]

That's all.

[Ron Filipkowski]

That's the regime. That's the regime that's in power. Here's what JD Said. Let's play it.

[Sean Hannity]

So I'm not going to ask you to agree with us on every issue, because that would be impossible. What I will ask you is if you want to make America great, if you want to protect your jobs and hopefully build jobs in this beautiful factory, if you want to make our streets even safer, if you want to rebuild the American dream for the next generation, vote against the crazy leadership in Washington, D.C. vote.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Well, there you have it, folks. JD being thrown under the bus. Will they try to get JD Fired and no longer be the vp? Will JD Try to get Trump Cabinet members fired? To be continued. But hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers. Want to stay plugged in?

[Podcast Host]

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[Ron Filipkowski]

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[Podcast Host]

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