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J.D. Vance

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Standing for the national anthem at the AmericaFest convention.

I went to the US’s peak MAGA conference to gauge the state of movement. Here’s what I found

A year into Donald Trump’s second term as president, a visit to the annual conservative AmericaFest convention reveals a splintering of the MAGA movement.

  • Michael Koziol

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Vice President JD Vance is a sceptic about foreign entanglements, but supported last year’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

JD Vance’s silence on the Iran strikes is starting to get very loud

For 48 hours, the US vice president has said next to nothing about Operation Epic Fury in an administration where praising the leader’s success is virtually mandatory.

  • Michael Koziol
Wolfgang Ischinger, a former German ambassador to the US, proclaimed a “sigh of relief” across Europe after Rubio’s speech.

Rubio gives Europe a Valentine’s bouquet, but the roses still have thorns

“The United States and Europe, we belong together,” the Secretary of State said, in a speech that struck a different tone to Vice President JD Vance’s one year earlier, but delivered essentially the same message.

  • Michael Koziol
JD Vance.

Ohio man charged with threatening to kill US Vice President JD Vance

Prosecutors also charged Shannon Mathre with possessing digital files depicting child sexual abuse that were allegedly discovered during the investigation.

  • Josh Funk
President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

Trump was poised to hit button on the Iran strikes. Then came the reality check

The US president had not officially given the strike order, but advisers expected action imminently. Then Trump came face to face with the limitations of US military power.

  • Warren P. Strobel, John Hudson, Isaac Arnsdorf, Susannah George, Gerry Shih and Tara Copp

We’ve seen the video. Trump’s lies about it are breaking the country

The terrible divisiveness of police violence is why responsible leaders respond to every incident with extreme care. You don’t send out allies and subordinates to whip up public anger.

  • David French
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Happier times: Then president-elect Donald Trump, with Elon Musk and JD Vance at a college football game in December 2024.

How Vance brokered truce between Trump and Musk after simmering feud turned into war

When the bromance between the US president and his first buddy fell apart in spectacular fashion, JD Vance saw an even greater threat – and picked up the phone.

  • Elizabeth Dwoskin, Natalie Allison and Faiz Siddiqui
Turning Point USA chief executive Erika Kirk welcomes Vice President JD Vance at its AmericaFest summit in Phoenix.

JD Vance is now the undisputed heir to the MAGA throne – but at what price?

Trump’s anointed successor must calm an increasingly fractious Republican movement which some say risks following its Democratic opponents down the same identity rabbit hole.

  • Michael Koziol
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance.

JD Vance launches foul-mouthed rant against his wife’s critics

The second lady was subjected to a torrent of racist abuse from far-right podcaster Nick Fuentes.

  • Susie Coen
Nicki Minaj at the Turning Point USA conference.

Rapper Nicki Minaj mortified by own gaffe during talk with Charlie Kirk’s widow

The singer went silent for a few seconds at a conservative conference as the audience laughed over the awkward moment. Erika Kirk quickly consoled her.

  • Maria Tsvetkova