Vice President JD Vance had no idea President Donald Trump had escalated the war in Iran until reporters tipped him off during a press conference in Hungary on Tuesday, according to reports.
A Washington Post reporter recommended Vance check his phone as he was on a stage with Trump ally Hungarian President Viktor Orbán, just after Trump had sent a serious threat warning on his Truth Social platform and said "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again," if Iran does not make a deal by his 8 p.m. ET deadline, The Daily Beast reported.
The Post reporter asked Vance if he had any new information that signaled a potential deal could be likely.
"I don’t—unless I have a text message from Steve Witkoff," Vance said in response, mentioning Trump's Middle East envoy.
He reached into his pocket and grabbed his phone, then realized the situation had changed.
"I do have a message from Steve Witkoff," Vance said awkwardly after receiving the message.
But the moment became noticeably more awkward, The Beast reported. A Reuters reporter followed up and said he might want to really check his phone.
"I do think you have to read that text because we have reporting that the United States is striking some targets in Kharg Island," the Reuters reporter said. "You did say that the military objectives of this war have been achieved. So could you help us understand why the president is still threatening to attack every bridge and every power plant in Iran?"
Vance, who served in the Marines and was briefly deployed in Iraq, has previously said he was against long-term wars in the Middle East and has had to balance his previous public statements with his current role in the Trump administration.
He tried to respond to the question.
"So you asked about Kharg Island," Vance said. "You know, my understanding, you know, having talked to Pete (Hegseth) and General Caine about this, is that we were going to strike some military targets on Kharg Island, and I believe we have done so."
"(The president)... has said very clearly, that we’re not going to strike energy and infrastructure targets until the Iranians either make a proposal that we can get behind or don’t make a proposal. But he’s given them until Tuesday, at 8 o’clock, so I don’t think the news on Kharg Island represents a change in strategy."