Vice President Vance reportedly said that he disliked “bailing Europe out again” when discussing Trump administration plans to bomb Houthi rebels in a group chat featuring other administration officials.
According to a new report from The Atlantic’s editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, he gained access to a group chat on Signal featuring Trump administration officials like Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In the group chat, officials talked about and went back-and-forth on details of attacks targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to Goldberg’s reporting.
Hegseth has previously stated that the attacks in Yemen, which struck several targets over the course of three days beginning on March 15, were included in an “unrelenting” campaign until the Houthis halted their attacking of vessels in the Red Sea, which is an important maritime corridor.
Goldberg reported that Vance said in the chat that he believed the strikes were “a mistake,” saying that 3 percent of U.S. trade moves through the Suez Canal, while 40 percent of European trade moves through the canal.
“There is a real risk that the public doesn’t understand this or why it’s necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message,” Vance reportedly said.
“I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now,” he reportedly continued, stating that the attacks could result in oil prices going up. “I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc,”
Hegseth then later reportedly stated that going forward with the strikes would appear decisive.
“If you think we should do it let’s go. I just hate bailing Europe out again,” Vance reportedly said.
Just two days before the attacks in Yemen, Trump made a threat to place a 200 percent tariff on wine, Champagne and other alcohol coming in via Europe in the case of the European Union not removing a tariff on whiskey.
“If this Tariff is not removed immediately, the U.S. will shortly place a 200% Tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER E.U. REPRESENTED COUNTRIES. This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S.” Trump said on his Truth Social platform at the time.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
