VINCE Podcast Episode 66: "President Trump Is 'Threading The Needle'"

Release Date: June 17, 2025
Host: Cumulus Podcast Network | VINCE
Guest: Mark Krikorian, Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies

1. Geopolitical Tensions: U.S. and Iran

Vince Coglianese opens the episode by highlighting escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. He describes an atmosphere of impending conflict, likening it to the feeling before a storm: “You feel there's something ominous in the air right now” (00:00).

President Trump's Stance on Iran:

• Early Departure from G7: Vince emphasizes that President Trump abruptly left the G7 summit to address the situation in Iran, stating, “The White House is clearly stating that the reason for his departure is because of what is happening in Iran right now” (02:59).

• Public Warning: Trump warned civilians in Tehran to evacuate, saying on Truth Social, “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran” (03:19). Vince notes, “Now, if I was in Tehran, I would take him seriously” (03:19), drawing parallels to Trump’s past announcements that had market implications.

• Historical Context: Vince references Trump’s consistent opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, citing multiple past statements:

  • “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon” (06:10)
  • “Nuclear weapons are the single greatest threat to this world” (06:10)
  • “Don’t let Iran have nuclear weapons” (06:10)

2. U.S. Military Movements in the Middle East

Vince details the strategic repositioning of U.S. military assets in response to the Iran situation:

• Deployment of Aircraft Carriers:

  • USS Nimitz: Redirected to the Middle East to join the USS Carl Vinson’s strike group, with the Vinson nearing the end of its deployment (03:19).

• Additional Naval Assets:

  • Destroyers: The USS Thomas Hudner joins the USS Arleigh Burke and USS Sullivans, enhancing missile defense capabilities (07:01).
  • Missile Interceptors: Both the Burke and Sullivans have recently launched missile interceptors to defend Israel from incoming ballistic missiles from Iran (07:01).

Pentagon's Position:

• Defensive Posture: Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell asserts, “American forces are maintaining their defensive posture, and that has not changed” (07:01).

• Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Remarks:

  • Peace Through Strength: Hegseth emphasizes the importance of a strong defensive stance to facilitate peace deals:
    • “Peace through strength and America First” (10:44)
    • “We are postured defensively in the region to be strong in pursuit of a peace deal” (10:44)

3. Analysis of Potential U.S. Actions Towards Iran

Vince delves into the strategic implications of the current U.S. stance:

• Preemptive Strike Justification: He suggests that the administration is framing potential military actions as defensive to gain public and political support.

• Bunker Buster Technology: Discussion on the possibility of the U.S. using advanced weapons to target Iran’s deep underground nuclear facilities, specifically the Fordo fuel enrichment plant (12:23).

• Consequences of Regime Change: Vince raises critical questions about the aftermath of a potential overthrow of the Iranian regime, including:

  • Power Vacuum: “Who takes over?”
  • Sectarian Violence: Potential increase in internal conflict.
  • Strait of Hormuz Control: Implications for global energy flows and China’s role (17:48).

4. Trump’s Foreign Policy Pillars

Vince outlines the two main pillars of Trump’s foreign policy:

1. No Endless Wars:

   • Trump's commitment to avoiding prolonged military engagements, contrasting with past administrations' approaches.

2. Preventing Iran’s Nuclear Capability:

   • A longstanding priority, with consistent messaging against Iran obtaining nuclear weapons (25:03).

Charlie Kirk’s Perspective:

• Trump’s Unique Position: Kirk praises Trump as the individual capable of balancing these priorities, stating, “President Trump has the talent, the expertise to be able to thread that needle” (25:03).

5. Domestic Focus: Immigration and Deportations

Vince shifts the discussion to domestic issues, specifically immigration enforcement:

• ICE’s Reversed Guidance: Initially, ICE had relaxed deportation efforts for farm and hotel workers based on Trump's brief openness, but faced backlash from the base leading to a reversal:
  • "Trump officials reverse guidance exempting farms and hotels from immigration raids" (32:42).

Interview with Mark Krikorian:

• Deportation Strategies:

  • Enforcement Push: Emphasis on continued raids and deportations to discourage illegal immigration.
  • Self-Deportation Phenomenon: Krikorian explains that increased enforcement leads to “self-deportation,” where immigrants choose to leave proactively to avoid detention.
    • “Self deportation is what Romney called it” (42:36).

• Prosecuting Employers:

  • Accountability: Stressing the need to hold businesses exploiting illegal immigrants accountable, enhancing the effectiveness of E-Verify systems (34:33).

• Reconciliation Bill and E-Verify:

  • Legislative Challenges: Highlighting the difficulties of integrating nationwide E-Verify into the Big Beautiful Bill due to its focus on financial provisions rather than policy mandates (40:57).
  • Administrative Authority: Suggesting that the administration could mandate E-Verify independently, despite potential legal challenges (41:27).

• Mechanization in Agriculture:

  • Reducing Dependency on Labor: Advocating for investment in labor-saving technologies to decrease reliance on illegal immigrants in farming (47:35).

• Guest Worker Programs:

  • Optimizing Legal Channels: Critiquing the inefficiency of existing guest worker programs, leading employers to prefer illegal labor over navigating red tape (49:24).

6. Election Integrity Concerns

Towards the episode's conclusion, Vince addresses allegations of foreign interference in the 2020 U.S. election:

• FBI Director Cash Patel’s Revelations:

  • Chinese Interference: Claims that the CCP orchestrated a scheme involving fake driver's licenses and fraudulent mail-in ballots to influence the election in favor of Joe Biden.

• Contrasting Past Allegations: Vince juxtaposes these allegations with the previously emphasized Russian interference claims, suggesting a double standard in addressing foreign threats (52:00).

• Implications of Illegal Immigration: Connecting back to immigration, Vince implies that the influx of Chinese nationals in the U.S. may have been part of the interference strategy, though details remain speculative (52:00).

Key Quotes

• Vince on G7 Departure:
  “The President of the United States has heard you… The President, of course, you heard in that audio saying that he has to get back as quickly as he possibly can to the United States” (02:59).

• Trump’s Consistent Stance on Nuclear Weapons:
  “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon” (06:10).

• Secretary of Defense on Peace Through Strength:
  “Peace through strength and America First” (10:44).

• Charlie Kirk on Trump’s Foreign Policy:
  “President Trump has the talent, the expertise to be able to thread that needle” (25:03).

• Mark Krikorian on Self-Deportation:
  “Self deportation is what Romney called it” (42:36).

• Vince on Host-Based Enforcement:
  “The most critical, urgent, pressing threat we face above and beyond everything else is the invasion of our country” (37:59).

• Vince on Election Integrity:
  “These are not, you know, McLovin, fake driver's licenses used for some 16 year old to buy booze... These are fake driver's licenses in order to steal the election for Joe Biden” (52:00).

Concluding Thoughts

In this episode, Vince delves deep into both international and domestic issues facing the United States. He underscores President Trump's strategic balancing act in foreign policy—aiming to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons while avoiding endless military engagements. On the home front, the focus shifts to stringent immigration enforcement, emphasizing the importance of deportations and holding employers accountable for illegal labor practices.

Vince also brings to light significant concerns regarding election integrity, suggesting that foreign interference, particularly by the CCP, played a role in shaping recent electoral outcomes. Throughout the episode, Vince maintains a critical yet analytical perspective, urging listeners to consider the broader implications of current policies and actions.

For a comprehensive understanding of the topics discussed, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.