On Thursday, Vice President JD Vance paid a visit to the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in California and, as is his wont, put his foot squarely in his mouth.
The “Hillbilly Elegy” author, who compared President Trump to Hitler before serving as his running mate, took it upon himself to defend Nixon’s legacy and downplay his corruption.
“I think that his historical legacy is enjoying a bit of a renaissance —but I think deservedly so,” Vance said of Nixon. “If Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be like a 12-hour news story. Like, the idea that it would have taken down a presidency is crazy.”
The context was clear: Watergate would only be a 12-hour news story these days because it pales in comparison to the rampant corruption of the Trump administration.
Vance sat down with Bill Maher the following evening for an interview on “Real Time” to promote his new book “Communion” about his faith, thereby becoming the first sitting vice president to appear on the HBO show. And the two kicked off their conversation talking about Vance’s ongoing negotiations with Iran, which appear to be going nowhere.
