JD Vance criticized for ‘grotesque’ defense of Trump’s alleged conversations with Putin

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) offered a surprising reaction Tuesday to new news that Donald Trump maintained a relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin after leaving the White House.

At a campaign stop in Detroit, a reporter asked the GOP vice presidential nominee about Bob Woodward’s reporting in his new book that Trump has had as many as seven phone calls with the authoritarian leader since he left office.

Vance initially responded by deflecting, saying, “I honestly didn’t know Bob Woodward was still alive until you asked me that question,” and calling the legendary journalist a “hack.”

Then he added: “Even if it’s true, is there anything wrong with talking to world leaders? No. Is there anything wrong with engaging in diplomacy?”

As commentators on social media have pointed out, yes, it actually exists.

Under the Logan Act, a federal law, citizens cannot engage in unauthorized diplomacy with foreign governments.

“What a grotesque defense. In fact, a former president secretly speaking to a war criminal, an adversary of the United States, leader of a terrorist state, is completely wrong,” noted a critic on X, formerly Twitter, about Vance’s comments.

“They quickly went from the ‘it didn’t happen’ phase to the ‘even if it’s true’ phase,” wrote another on X.

See these reactions and others below.