Vance Denies and Confirms Atlantic Reporting in One Breath

The vice president’s comments on Fox News are the latest instance of his tortured attempts to navigate a path through Donald Trump’s war in Iran.Alex Wong / GettyApril 30, 2026, 4:33 PM ET This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here.Staying in Donald Trump’s good graces while also protecting your own political future requires supreme political agility, and most people who try end up failing at both. Just ask Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Paul Ryan, and any number of other faded GOP stars—if you can find them. Vice President Vance hasn’t mastered this balance either.Earlier this week, The Atlantic reported that during private meetings, Vance “has repeatedly questioned the Defense Department’s depiction of the war in Iran and whether the Pentagon has understated what appears to be the drastic depletion of U.S. missile stockpiles.” Vance’s inquiries echo concerns from some others inside the administration, as well as voices in Congress and elsewhere, who warn about American military readiness.Public figures occasionally deliver what’s known as a “non-denial denial,” in which they try to