Vance Faces Hard Questions on Gas Prices, Iran and Immigration in CBS Town Hall

FLAT ROCK, Michigan. Vice President JD Vance took hard questions from Michigan voters on Saturday night, in a CBS News town hall on gas prices, the Iran war, immigration and a possible 2028 run.

The town hall, hosted by CBS anchor Tony Dokoupil, aired weeks before the November 3 midterms. Michigan holds an open Senate seat, contested by Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers, a race that could help decide Senate control.

Gas prices and the Iran war

Keshon Wheatley, a 43 year old Detroit barber, asked why gas costs far more than in Trump's first term. Wheatley voted for Trump in 2020 and 2024 and now plans to vote for El-Sayed.

Vance blamed Iran's attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and said about 20 percent of US refining capacity went offline under Joe Biden. The administration is using the Defense Production Act to restore it, he said. "When this conflict is over, we are going to see gas prices come down."

Asked why the United States has not won the war decisively, Vance said in some ways it has, pointing to the destruction of Iran's nuclear program. Washington still seeks a verifiable commitment that Iran will not rebuild it.

A widower asks about failures in Kuwait

Joey Amor, whose wife, Master Sgt. Nicole Amor, was one of six American soldiers killed by an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait on March 1, asked how leaders would be held accountable for the failures before the attack.

Vance said he did not doubt that failures had happened. He called the placement of troops in Kuwait a huge mistake, said tactics have since changed to counter cheap drones, and promised to speak with Amor after the program. CBS News says 21 American service members have been killed since the war began in late February.

Immigration, faith and his own words

Sister Nancy Sylvester, a Catholic nun, asked Vance, a fellow Catholic, how he would justify Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics to people of faith. Vance said the administration is trying to balance law enforcement with humane treatment. He called most ICE agents patriots, said some make mistakes, and said those who do should be investigated and disciplined.

A naturalized citizen who voted for Vance pressed him on rhetoric that scapegoats immigrants, including his description of some H-1B workers as foreign indentured servants. "To the extent that my rhetoric has been imperfect here, that is on me," he said. The remark criticised companies, not workers, he said.

Corruption, data centers and 2028

Dokoupil cited a Fox News poll in which 60 percent of voters were extremely concerned about corruption. Vance said Washington is a corrupt town but he has seen no evidence Trump takes part in it. "If somebody is selling access to the White House, that is disgusting and despicable and they should suffer consequences," he said. He would comply with subpoenas if Democrats win Congress, he said.

On the economy, Vance told a business owner whose center is barely making ends meet that fixing the country will take more than 18 months. "We are turning the ship around," he said.

A resident living across from a data center complained about constant buzzing. Vance said data centers must be good community citizens and must not push up household utility bills.

Asked if he might not run for president in 2028, Vance said: "Of course there is a chance." He called himself a procrastinator on big decisions and said his wife Usha, with whom he has four young children, has never loved politics, though she loves public service.