Trump calls into JD Vance interview to ask a weird question

On October 24th, Donald Trump phoned into a town hall interview being hosted by Chris Cuomo with his Vice Presidential running mate JD Vance to ask his 2024 VP pick a very important question: How brilliant is Donald J. Trump?

That’s right, the former president really did call into Vance’s town hall—which was being broadcast by News Nation—and he made sure to ask his running mate a question designed to make the assembled audience go crazy for him. 

“We have a call right now from former President Donald John Trump,” Cuomo explained to Vance at one point during their town hall according to Mediaite—which noted that the crowd of undecided voters clapped and cheered about the news. 

Photo Credit: X @NewsNation

“He wants to weigh in. Mr. President, I know there’s a little bit of a delay. Can you hear us, and what is your question?” Cuomo said to Trump, who quickly responded to the former CNN host in his typical Trumpian manner. 

Vance answered questions for about an hour according to Mediaite. However, few other questions put Trump’s Vice Presidential pick in the hot seat quite like the one asked by the former president. But how did Vance answer Trump?

Photo Credit: X @NewsNation

“Well, I can hear you, Chris, and I do have a question,” Trump said. “And I think it will be quite an interesting one. The answer should be easy. How brilliant is Donald J. Trump?” the former president said, which earned a laugh from Vance and the audience.

“Take your time, think about it,” Cuomo said. However, Vance seemed to be ready with an answer that wasn't half bad if it truly was an ‘off the cuff’ answer. “Well, first of all, Sir, this is supposed to be undecided voters,” Vance began. 

Photo Credit: X @NewsNation

“I would hope that I have your vote, of all people. But here’s– first of all, Sir, of course, you’re very brilliant. And we both agree. We both agree that it’s important to have smart people running the government,” Vance continued. 

Vance jumped into a quick story about Trump asking his wife her feelings on Vance in politics to which Vance’s wife Usha Vance gave a diplomatic answer explaining how her husband really cared about the people of Ohio and how she was thrilled to support him. 

“We were hosting an event forum near our home in Cincinnati a few months ago. And… my wife was a little bit nervous to really talk to the President of the United States, and he asked her, What do you think about your husband being in public service?” Vance said. 

“And she gives, if you know, my wife, a very diplomatic answer, you know, sir, he really cares about the people of Ohio. He’s thrilled to be able to serve them, and I’m happy to support him however I can,” Vance explained. 

According to Vance, Trump apparently responded to Usha’s explanation by chuckling at her answer and telling her: “Yeah, my wife hates it, too,” which Vance said broke down a barrier of nervousness that Usha was feeling while talking to Trump. 

“It wasn’t the former president, it was just a person talking to my wife, and I think you guys were able to have a nice conversation, but that ability to relate to anybody in any environment, I think that’s the true brilliance of Donald J Trump,” Vance said according to News Nation. 

Mediaite reported that Vance had laid his praise of the former president on a little thick. But Trump seemed genuinely happy with his running mate's answer and responded with a little praise of his own for Vance. “That’s very nice, and I appreciate it,” Trump replied. 

Photo Credit: X @NewsNation

“Maybe I’ll ask a second one. I watched, believe it or not, CNN last night. And in watching it, I watched the town hall with Kamala. Let me ask you for a second… and it was not good. How brilliant is Kamala?” Trump continued. 

Vance appeared to be taken off guard by Trump’s question. Mediaite reported that Vance laughed nervously before answering: “That’s a tough one. I’m supposed to say something–” Vance said before Trump cut him off.

“Don’t say it,” Trump interrupted. He then went on to say without evidence that he and Vance were “leading by a landslide” before he said goodbye to Vance and Cuomo as the audience applauded him. 

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