Vice President JD Vance expressed sympathy for former President Richard M. Nixon on Thursday, downplaying the Watergate scandal and drawing parallels between Nixon’s political downfall in the 1970s and the challenges faced by former President Donald Trump. Speaking at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in California, Vance suggested that if a scandal like Watergate occurred today, it would receive limited media attention and not lead to a presidential resignation.
Vance remarked that the sustained media coverage of Watergate at the time was unlikely to be replicated in the modern 24-hour news cycle and characterized the movement to oust Nixon as excessive. He also repeated claims that a “deep state” coalition targeted both Nixon and Trump, arguing that similar groups of people and institutions undermined both presidencies.
The vice president drew further comparisons between Nixon and Trump’s political bases and their respective approaches to foreign policy, notably highlighting Nixon’s extraction of U.S. forces from Vietnam “from a position of strength” as analogous to Trump’s handling of tensions with Iran. Vance also referenced congressional investigations into both presidents, noting that Nixon resigned amidst an impeachment inquiry while Trump was impeached twice during his term.
Vance’s comments drew swift criticism from historians, who emphasized the extensive and well-documented abuses of presidential power revealed by the Watergate scandal. Timothy Naftali, a Columbia University historian and former director of the Nixon library, underscored evidence from Oval Office tapes in which Nixon discussed efforts to obstruct justice, authorize illegal activities, and maintain what became known as his “enemies list.” Naftali stressed that these actions went beyond partisan interpretation and represented clear violations of the law.
“You can hear him suborn perjury on the tapes,” Naftali said, noting Nixon’s instructions to White House aides on what to tell FBI investigators. He described the historical record as overwhelming in demonstrating Nixon’s misconduct, adding that Vance, as a Yale-trained lawyer, should be aware of this.
Experts also underscored the broader impact of the Watergate scandal, which led to reforms aimed at limiting presidential power and increasing government oversight—some of which the Trump administration sought to roll back. While conservative commentators have at times suggested that Nixon was unfairly targeted by the media and government officials, scholars maintain that the scandal’s evidence highlights clear legal and ethical breaches.
During his remarks, Vance also reflected on personal similarities with Nixon, referencing the former president’s early political career and media challenges. At 41, Vance noted that Nixon was a California senator in his late 30s, became vice president at 40, authored best-selling books, and was frequently criticized by the press. “It kind of sounds like JD Vance,” he said, adding, “I’ve always liked Richard Nixon.”
A representative for Vance did not immediately clarify whether his comments were intended ironically or how he was specifically defining the Watergate scandal.