Vice President JD Vance pushed back hard against claims that President Donald Trump has benefited financially from political office, calling the idea 'laughable' and arguing the Trump family was nearly destroyed by politics.
Speaking in a video posted by the Trump campaign's Rapid Response account, Vance was asked about criticism that Trump has been enriched by the presidency. He rejected the premise outright.
'It's laughable to me, the idea that Donald Trump has somehow been enriched by political office. He nearly had his life destroyed by his quest to become President!' Vance said.
'Their lives were nearly destroyed'
Vance pointed to the Trump family's financial and legal battles, arguing they suffered 'extraordinary financial consequences' and faced threats that no ordinary political figure would endure.
'I think it's a family that suffered extraordinary financial consequences for him being president the first time,' Vance said. 'Their lives were nearly destroyed, their business was nearly destroyed. They tried to throw the president in jail for something like 900 years, so I don't see the benefit there.'
Corruption in Washington is a separate issue
Vance acknowledged a broader concern about Washington corruption, but insisted it does not apply to Trump.
'Is DC just too corrupt of a town? Do people get too rich for knowing the right people? Do they sell access to the president? Now, I've never seen any evidence that anybody's selling access to the president or certainly selling access to me,' Vance said.
He said if credible accusations ever emerged, Trump would be the first to condemn them.
'If there's a credible accusation there, I guarantee you the president of the United States is going to be the first person in line to say that's ridiculous and despicable and I am too,' Vance said.
But Vance made clear he does not believe such a thing is happening with Trump.
'Our job is to make sure that they don't get richer, by having access to the president of the United States, but I just don't think that's a concern for this president,' he said.
