A Washington Post Reporter Asked Vance if God Is on America’s Side and His Answer Stopped Her Cold

JD Vance was standing next to Viktor Orbán in Budapest when a Washington Post reporter asked him if God approves of the Iran war.

He had about three seconds to answer.

What he said is going to be quoted for a long time.

Vance on Iran Nuclear Weapon: Pray We Are on God’s Side

Trump had repeatedly said "God is on our side" throughout the conflict with Iran.

The reporter wanted to know if Vance agreed.

"I think my attitude towards military conflict has always been to pray that we are on God's side," Vance said. "My own view is we are doing this for the right reasons. We're doing this because we don't want a regime that has committed acts of terrorism to have the world's most dangerous weapon. Because that would mean a lot of innocent people dead."

Then came the kicker.

"I certainly hope that God agrees with the decision that Iran shouldn't have a nuclear weapon, but I'll keep praying about it, and if He gives me a good answer, you'll be the first to know, Natalie."

The room murmured.

It was a textbook Abraham Lincoln answer – and Vance clearly knew it.

Lincoln famously said during the Civil War that he was more concerned with being on God's side than whether God was on his.

Vance reached for the same frame instinctively – distinguishing between claiming divine endorsement and praying for moral clarity.

Vance Teases Live Text from Steve Witkoff at Budapest Press Conference

The God question wasn't even the sharpest moment of the press conference.

When a reporter asked Vance for updates on the Iran deadline, he pulled out his phone and revealed he had an unread text from special envoy Steve Witkoff sitting right there.

"Wouldn't you like to know the subject of this message?" Vance told the room. "But no, I need to read it first before I talk about it."

The room laughed and pressed him.

He didn't read it aloud.

On the war's trajectory, Vance said the conclusion would come "very shortly" – with Tehran holding the deciding vote. "The nature of the conclusion is ultimately up to the Iranians," he said.

He also confirmed the overnight Kharg Island strikes, saying he didn't think they represented "a change in strategy, or represents any change from the president of the United States."

Strait of Hormuz Deadline Tonight: Kharg Island Strikes and No Deal in Sight

While Vance fielded questions in Budapest, U.S. forces struck more than 50 military targets on Kharg Island – Iran's main oil export hub – in a wave that hit before Trump's 8 p.m. ET deadline tonight.

Trump has given Iran until that hour to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on bridges and power plants.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard fired back with a warning that it would cut off American allies from the region's oil and gas for years if the U.S. crossed what Tehran called its red lines.

Gas prices have climbed to a national average of $4.14 a gallon, according to AAA – up 39 percent since the war began February 28. Crude oil is trading at $116 a barrel.

Iran sent a formal 10-point counter-proposal through Pakistan: sanctions lifted, reconstruction guaranteed, a permanent end to the war – and a $2 million toll per ship through the strait it has held shut since the conflict began.

Trump called it "a significant step" but "not good enough."

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that chances of a deal before tonight's deadline are slim.

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are the negotiators on the American side.

Vance is reportedly on standby.

Whatever was in that text message, the Vice President kept it to himself in Budapest – at least for now.

Sources:

• Nicole Silverio, "Vance Asked If 'God Is On The Side' Of America In Iran Conflict As Trump Threatens Massive Strikes," Daily Caller News Foundation, April 7, 2026.
• Washington Examiner Staff, "Vance pushes for Iran to negotiate ceasefire deal before deadline," Washington Examiner, April 7, 2026.
• Fox News Staff, "Iran war threatens to escalate as Trump demands reopening of Strait of Hormuz," Fox News Digital, April 7, 2026.
• NBC News Staff, "U.S. carried out strikes on Iran's Kharg Island overnight," NBC News, April 7, 2026.