Vance: Watergate Would Be ‘a 12-Hour News Story’ Today
“The same ‘deep state’ forces that targeted Nixon attempted to target President Donald Trump.”
Vice President JD Vance suggested that the Watergate scandal—which led to President Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974—would barely register as a news cycle in the current media environment. Vance made the remarks during a conversation at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California, while promoting his book "Communion."
A different media landscape
Vance claimed that Watergate would be "a 12-hour news story" if it happened today, implying that the modern news cycle would quickly move on from the scandal that once toppled a presidency.
Parallels drawn to Trump
He further suggested that the same "deep state" forces that targeted Nixon later attempted to target President Donald Trump during his first administration. This framing aligns Vance's view of contemporary political struggles with one of the most infamous chapters in American political history.
Personal similarities
Vance noted several personal similarities with Nixon, including:
- Being a young senator
- Serving as vice president
- Being an author
- Facing criticism from the media
Context
- Nixon resigned in 1974 amid the Watergate scandal.
- Vance is widely expected to be a presidential candidate in 2028.