JD Vance made these comments last week at a conference for the British Conservatives.
JD Vance, who has been named former US President Donald Trump’s running mate, sparked controversy after saying Britain under Labor could be the first “truly Islamic” country with nuclear weapons.
Vance said he had discussed with a friend which country would be the first “truly Islamic country to get a nuclear weapon.”
“Maybe it’s Iran, maybe it’s Pakistan, and then we decided maybe it’s Britain since Labor just took over,” he said at a conference for Britain’s Conservatives last week.
British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, meanwhile, played down Vance’s comments, saying he had a history of making “fruity” comments.
Britain would work with whoever won November’s US presidential election, Angela Rayner said, adding that “I don’t recognize that characterization”.
“We are interested in governing on behalf of Britain, and also in working with our international allies,” she said.
In one of his first interviews after being named vice presidential candidate, Vance also identified China as the biggest threat to America, underscoring their government’s likely aggressive stance toward Beijing if elected.
The Ohio senator made the comments in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday. When asked about the war in Ukraine, Vance said Trump would negotiate with Moscow and Kiev to “bring this matter to a quick conclusion so that America can focus on the real issue, which is China.”
“That is the biggest threat to our country and we are completely distracted from it,” he said
Vance, 39, was tapped by Trump days after a failed assassination attempt on the former president upended the already chaotic presidential contest.
