Vice President J.D. Vance pushed back sharply against ABC News host George Stephanopoulos during a tense Sunday interview, accusing him of fixating on unproven allegations against Border Czar Tom Homan instead of discussing the government shutdown and its impact on Americans.
The exchange, which aired on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, centered on reports alleging that Homan had accepted a $50,000 bribe — claims that have not been substantiated.
Stephanopoulos cited an FBI audio tape from September 2024 that he said contained evidence of the alleged payment.
Vance immediately rejected the premise of the question.
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“I don't know what tape you're referring to, George, I saw media reports that Tom Homan accepted a bribe. There's no evidence of that,” Vance said.
“And here's George why fewer and fewer people watch your program, and why you're losing credibility because you're talking for now five minutes with the Vice President United States about this story regarding Tom Homan, a story that I've read about, but I don't even know the video that you're talking about.”
The Vice President criticized Stephanopoulos for what he described as misplaced priorities during a time of national crisis.
“Meanwhile, low income women can't get food because the Democrats and Chuck Schumer have shut down the government,” Vance said.
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“Right now we're trying to figure out how to pay our troops because Chuck Schumer has shut down the government. You are focused on a bogus story. You're insinuating criminal wrongdoing against a guy who has done nothing wrong.”
Vance continued, urging the conversation to shift toward the government shutdown and its effect on working families.
“Instead of focusing on the fact that our country is struggling because our government shut down, let's talk about the real issues,” he said.
“George I think the American people would benefit much more from that than from you going down some weird left wing rabbit hole where the facts clearly show that Tom Homan didn't engage in any criminal wrongdoing.”
Stephanopoulos defended his line of questioning, insisting that it was legitimate to raise the issue.
“It's not a weird left wing rabbit hole,” Stephanopoulos responded.
“I didn't insinuate anything. I asked you whether Tom Homan accepted $50,000 as was heard on an audio tape recorded by the FBI in September 2024, and you did not answer the question. Thank you for your time this morning.”
As Stephanopoulos moved to end the segment, Vance attempted to continue responding. “No. George, I said…” Vance began, before the host interjected.
“We'll be right back,” Stephanopoulos said, cutting to commercial.
.@VP nukes George Slopidopolous for obsessing over made-up Fake News BS while not asking a single question about the Democrat Shutdown: "Here's, George, why fewer and fewer people watch your program..."George gets big mad, cuts @VP off, and goes to commercial 🤣 pic.twitter.com/VVm2FV5ujd
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 12, 2025
The exchange drew immediate attention online, with clips circulating widely on social media.
Supporters of the Vice President praised him for standing up to what they viewed as biased questioning, while critics argued that he evaded a direct answer.
Tom Homan, who serves as President Donald Trump’s Border Czar, has not been charged with any wrongdoing, and no official evidence has been released supporting the bribery allegations mentioned during the broadcast.
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Vance did not “hit back so hard”, he tried to change the subject to bad mouthing President Biden, which is a common Republican tactic, but George was having none of it. Vance has no ability whatsoever deliver an intellectual response to any question from the media so he veers off onto a whole different subject, but he can’t even do that well. Personally, I feel sure that Vance is hanging around & sucking up to Trump, with the highest of hope that he will become the next president, but #1, he shouldn’t make any spontaneous speeches because he’s not sharpest knife in the drawer, #2 He must get rid if every single disastrous appointee of Donald Trump, which means all of them, #3, He must seek out the brightest & most familiar people, those with good track records & whose judgment has traditionally reflected positive experience & common sense, #4, He must undo much if not all of Trump’s legislation, including the unfair tax laws that favor only the they very wealthy, including himself, & the tariffs which have hit innocent working people with higher prices & failing businesses. In case the Republicans haven’t noticed or heard, Trump & his minions including Treasury Secretary Bessett, just last week did a $20 billion “bailout” for Venezuela, which is another concocted plan which will ultimately benefit only the very wealthy. Check it out!
You anti-American lemmings lost.
Get over it and enjoy the prosperity.
Don’t fight it. It’ll only hurt more.
You are an asshole.
Wrong, he brought up what should be an important discussion that the leftist scum apparently refused to discuss while trying to badger someone whom he doesn’t agree with which is Holman, and yes keeping Argentina out of communism is a good thing
So did you cry real tears this morning when POTUS Trump was taking in the congrats of the world for making some honest positive steps in stabilizing the middle east and welcoming back the hostages. Were you watching when he said bribem was the worst president ever and barry bongo was not far behind and it was a big applause line…humm? Did your butt hurt as much as when you send a weekend with your boy friend? The 2 major topics in the world right now are Trump in the middle East with another war settled and the democrat created government shut down. Not repeat NOT Tom Homan and some ridiculous bribe story. Do try to keep up.
It’s wrong to label you an asshole. You aspired, applied but even the A/H’s voted too stoopid. You could apply to be an amoeba. Good chance.
Are you blind and daft?I am not America and can see that Vance is smart
And Patriotic !
You have severe TDS…. 🥴😵💫🤪
They didn’t do anything with Venezuela. I think you’re talking about Argentina. They purchase $20 billion in Argentinian bonds, that’s not a bailout.
It’s called an investment.
Dumbasssssss
If you believe that – I’ve got some very special deals going for Private shares in both the Peak level Eiffel Tower and the Mid-Section of the Golden Gate Bridge ! Let me know …. ;)
Definitive USA Heading is Third World with DJT as full up Dick.Tator!
You go JD
Ok the so called media dreams up some more fake allegations in a pathetic attempt to discredit Tom Homan.
Like a new version of the Russia Hoax – made-up garbage. If the Dems had any winning issues maybe they could discuss issues.
The Little People Society is protesting the savage beat down.
Stephanopolous is just another left-wing hack spewing inaccurate information and lies on the MSM. Vance put him in his place and he wouldn’t accept the facts so he ended the interview.
Childish, juvenile, lacking in reasoning, totally without factual argumentation, persuasive to NO ONE but left wing unthinking political idealogues… why does that diminutive hairy little greek leprechaun contribute to the world of journalism besides being a parrot-talking-head for left-wing obammy nonsense?! i have more respect for the unthinking antifa scum committing crime in the street than this effeminate sorry excuse for a “man” — prob gets pegged nightly in that ginormous anal cavity