Karoline Leavitt weighs in as JD Vance and Marco Rubio's rivalry grabs attention

Speculation inside Washington has been building over a possible power struggle at the top of the Trump administration. At the center of it are Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and their roles in Venezuela policy.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the rumors and dismissed reports of a rivalry between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio over Venezuela. Her message was blunt apparently that claims of rivalry are being overstated, as per a report by the Mirror.

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Why was JD Vance absent from public Venezuela briefings?

Questions about Vice President JD Vance’s role surfaced after a report suggested his absence during the Venezuela operation raised eyebrows. A reporter cited The New Yorker, which questioned Vance’s “notable absence” and asked whether it reflected “his anti-interventionist ideology or political calculation.”

The reporter pressed Karoline Leavitt to clarify whether Vance had been sidelined from the operation or excluded from decision-making. The inquiry fueled broader speculation about internal divisions within the administration, particularly between Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as per a report by the Mirror.


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How did Karoline Leavitt respond to rivalry claims?

Leavitt forcefully rejected the suggestion, saying she had seen the report and reacted strongly. “Quite frankly, I laughed out loud because it's very clear it's a fake report that's trying to sow distrust and division among the president and his team."

She emphasized Vance’s central role in the administration, stating, "Let me just be very clear." "The vice president has been involved in all policy." "He is the right-hand man of the president on all policy matters, including Venezuela policy." "He was, of course, read in and deeply involved in this operation from the very beginning," Leavitt said, as per a report by the Mirror.

According to her explanation, Vance was fully briefed and actively involved but operated from a different location. He was included “via secure communication at a different location as to not damage the operational secrecy of this mission.” Leavitt said his physical absence was intentional and necessary, adding that it “was so incredibly important to ensure that this mission could be carried out successfully without endangering our troops."

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What has JD Vance said about the alleged rivalry?

As rumors spread, Vance addressed them directly during an interview with Sean Hannity. When asked about tensions with Rubio, he replied, “I don’t feel like that at all.”

He dismissed talk of political competition, saying, “If Marco eventually runs for president, then we can cross that bridge when we come to it." "People have asked me, ‘Do you see Marco as a rival?’ And first of all, if either of us end up running, it’s a long ways in the future, and neither of us is entitled to it."

"So I think it would be ridiculous for me to say Marco is a rival," he said. "No, Marco is a colleague."

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FAQs

Is there tension between JD Vance and Marco Rubio?
Both Leavitt and Vance say no, calling rivalry claims exaggerated.

Was JD Vance involved in Venezuela policy?
Yes. Leavitt said he was involved from the start through secure communication.