Vice President JD Vance made headlines during a fiery exchange with CBS News anchor Margaret Brennan on immigration and national security, leaving her visibly rattled and earning widespread applause from Republican lawmakers and supporters. The Face the Nation interview quickly went viral, showcasing Vance’s sharp refusal to budge on his critique of the refugee vetting process, particularly under the Biden administration. Despite Brennan’s repeated attempts to defend the system, Vance dismantled her arguments with a mix of cold facts and no-nonsense rhetoric.
The conversation began with Brennan touting the supposed rigor of the refugee screening process, claiming it takes 18 to 24 months to vet applicants. She pressed Vance on his past statements about supporting refugees who had been properly vetted. But Vance wasted no time pointing out the glaring flaws in her argument, citing the case of Afghan national Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, who entered the U.S. on a special immigrant visa after the Biden administration’s chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal. Tawhedi was later charged with planning a terrorist attack on Election Day, a detail Vance wielded to underscore the shortcomings of the vetting process.
Vance didn’t let Brennan off the hook, emphasizing that Tawhedi’s case wasn’t just an isolated incident but a glaring example of what can go wrong when the system fails. He dismissed her attempts to downplay the case, arguing that even one improperly vetted individual could pose a catastrophic risk to national security. When Brennan interjected to highlight the 30,000 Afghan refugees still in the pipeline, insisting they had all been thoroughly vetted, Vance swiftly rebutted, using Tawhedi as a stark counterexample to challenge her claims.
The vice president’s populist approach resonated with viewers as he shifted the focus to the broader impact of refugee resettlement on American communities. Vance bluntly stated that he wouldn’t allow his children—or anyone else’s—to live near individuals who hadn’t been properly vetted. His no-apologies stance struck a chord with conservatives, who have long been skeptical of the Biden administration’s immigration policies. Vance’s willingness to prioritize national security and the well-being of American families further solidified his reputation as a champion of strong borders and common sense.
In a final attempt to regain control, Brennan suggested that Tawhedi might have been radicalized after arriving in the U.S., but Vance wasn’t buying it. He flatly dismissed the point, declaring that he didn’t care how or when the radicalization happened; such individuals shouldn’t be in the country in the first place. His unapologetic clarity left Brennan scrambling for a comeback, while viewers were left with a clear reminder of the ideological chasm between the left’s lenient immigration stance and the right’s demand for accountability. Vance’s performance was a masterclass in cutting through political spin and holding the line on national security.
Vice President @JDVance utterly embarrasses CBS and @margbrennan on the unvetted migrants that Biden allowed into our country 🔥☠️
— Andrew Surabian (@Surabees) January 26, 2025
Margaret Brennan: "These people are vetted!"
VP Vance: "Just like the guy who planned a terrorist attack in Oklahoma a few months ago?" pic.twitter.com/IeA8qsklTR
