Elon Musk has slowed work on the “America Party,” the third-party vehicle he announced in July, according to people familiar with the matter cited by the Wall Street Journal. The report says the billionaire is telling allies he wants to keep his attention on Tesla, SpaceX and his other companies rather than undertake a costly national political effort. Advisers say Musk worries a third-party bid would alienate Republican leaders and voters, particularly Vice President JD Vance, widely viewed as the heir apparent to Donald Trump’s MAGA movement. No filings have been made with the Federal Election Commission and meetings with outside organizers, including Andrew Yang and Mark Cuban, have been cancelled, the Journal added, quoting Libertarian National Committee chair Steven Nekhaila as seeing “eerie silence” around the project. Instead, Musk is weighing whether to channel some of his wealth into a possible Vance presidential campaign in 2028. He spent an estimated $300 million supporting Trump and other Republican candidates during the 2024 cycle and remains an influential donor within the party. Musk did not comment to the Journal, but later wrote on his social-media platform X that “nothing the WSJ says should be thought of as true.” The newspaper stands by its reporting, and neither Musk nor his representatives have provided evidence that the party infrastructure is moving forward.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance recently characterized Russian President Vladimir Putin as more soft-spoken than commonly perceived by the American media. Speaking on Fox News, Vance described Putin as deliberate and careful, emphasizing that he fundamentally looks out for Russia's interests as he sees them. Vance noted he has never met Putin in person but has communicated with him by phone. His remarks, which were echoed by Russian state media, have sparked discussion and debate within Washington, with some observers noting the unusual tone of Vance’s comments given the current geopolitical tensions.

Vice President JD Vance has publicly supported President Donald Trump’s crime crackdown in Washington, D.C., urging other cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee to request federal assistance to address rising crime rates. In an interview on the Will Cain Show, Vance discussed several key issues including tariffs, illegal immigration, and economic policy. He attributed the dramatic rise in housing prices partly to illegal immigration, stating that too many people were competing with American citizens for scarce homes. Vance also noted that housing affordability has stabilized recently due to negative net migration into the United States, which he described as the first occurrence in 60 years. On economic policy, Vance emphasized the importance of protecting American workers by imposing tariffs on goods manufactured overseas and rewarding companies that build factories within the United States, particularly in middle America. Additionally, he commented on disaster aid for Milwaukee area floods and the deployment of National Guard troops in U.S. cities as part of broader efforts to maintain public safety.

Vice President JD Vance said U.S.-brokered negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine have narrowed to two core issues: security guarantees that would prevent future invasions of Ukraine and the scope of territory Russia wants to control, including land its forces do not currently occupy. In an interview with Fox News, Vance added that Washington has now received detailed positions from Kyiv and Moscow and is working toward a potential face-to-face meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He indicated the agreement need not be fully drafted before such a summit, but declined to outline a timeline. Vance described Putin as “soft-spoken,” “deliberate” and “careful,” remarks quickly circulated by Russian state media. He also recalled that President Donald Trump telephoned Putin at roughly 1 a.m. in Moscow after a White House session with European leaders, bypassing customary diplomatic vetting in what Vance called a bid to accelerate the talks.

Vice President JD Vance has opened a commanding early lead in the race for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, according to a Rasmussen Reports survey published Tuesday. The poll shows Vance backed by 35% of likely GOP primary voters, more than triple the support for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who tie at 10%. Among self-identified Republican voters, Vance’s advantage widens to 53%, with DeSantis and Rubio each at 11%. Vance was in Britain this week on what aides described as a “working holiday.” Staying in the Oxfordshire village of Dean, he held private talks with Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, after earlier conferring with Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening House. Former chancellor George Osborne helped arrange the Cotswolds visit, according to the Financial Times. On Wednesday the vice president travelled to Royal Air Force Base Fairford, where he addressed U.S. airmen and their families. Praising the century-old U.S.–UK military partnership, Vance told the troops their presence “makes it possible for us to accomplish the President’s goals through negotiation,” a reference to President Donald Trump’s forthcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The visit has drawn a modest but noisy backlash from local residents. Police erected roadblocks around Dean, and an estimated 50 to 100 protesters in nearby Charlbury staged a “Vance not welcome” gathering featuring placards and a van bearing a doctored image of the vice president. Similar demonstrations greeted Vance when he continued his vacation in Scotland on Thursday.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance has publicly urged Elon Musk to rejoin the MAGA movement ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Vance described Musk's distancing from former President Donald Trump as a mistake and expressed hope that Musk would "come back into the fold" by the time of the midterms. He emphasized the importance of unity within the movement to secure electoral success. Musk, who has previously been critical of Trump, has been described by Vance as a "good person," and Musk reciprocated by praising Vance. Other prominent MAGA figures, including Senator Mike Lee and political strategist Roger Stone, have also called for Musk's return, citing his influence, vision, and financial support as potentially pivotal for the Republican Party's midterm prospects. Despite these calls, Musk has reportedly been reluctant to engage directly with Vance, with Vance noting uncertainty about whether Musk would take his calls. Musk's involvement in government has evolved, with his temporary official status concluded, though his associates remain embedded in various U.S. agencies. The push to bring Musk back reflects broader concerns within the MAGA movement about maintaining cohesion and leveraging Musk's resources and influence for the upcoming elections.

Vice President JD Vance is actively promoting President Donald Trump's economic agenda, focusing on rebranding the administration's tax cut and spending law, which critics have labeled as favoring wealthy elites. Vance emphasized the administration's shift from policies that incentivized companies to offshore manufacturing to rewarding those that build factories within the United States, particularly in middle America. He highlighted the imposition of tariffs on goods produced overseas to protect American workers and praised tax cuts on overtime as part of the effort to increase disposable income for working Americans. Vance described these measures as part of the 'Big Beautiful Bill' combined with the 'America First' trade agenda, aiming to boost American industry and consumer spending on domestically made products.

Vice President JD Vance said in a 10 Aug appearance on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures” that he expects “a lot of people” to be indicted over what he called the Obama-era “Russia collusion hoax.” Citing newly declassified documents provided to the Justice Department by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Vance claimed intelligence officials “laundered” Hillary Clinton campaign talking points through federal agencies and thereby “defrauded the American people.” He urged the Justice Department to bring charges, arguing that without consequences the misconduct would be repeated. In the same interview, the vice president also pressed for “full transparency” on financier Jeffrey Epstein’s records, asserting that Epstein maintained extensive ties to “left-wing politicians and billionaires.” Vance singled out former President Bill Clinton, saying reports of more than two-dozen visits to Epstein’s private island warrant closer scrutiny. Two days later, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer escalated the pressure, calling Clinton a “prime suspect” in the congressional probe of Epstein’s network. Comer confirmed that the committee has issued bipartisan subpoenas compelling testimony from Bill and Hillary Clinton and other former senior officials, with Clinton’s deposition scheduled for 14 Oct. Comer voiced confidence that the panel will prevail in any court fight to enforce the subpoenas. The remarks from Vance and Comer intensify Republican demands for accountability on two high-profile controversies: the origins of the 2016 Russia investigation and the still-unresolved questions surrounding Epstein’s associates. The Justice Department has not publicly responded to Vance’s call for prosecutions or to the House subpoenas.

Vice President J.D. Vance announced that the United States is ending its direct funding of the Ukraine war, signaling a shift in U.S. policy toward seeking a peaceful settlement. Vance emphasized that if European countries want to support Ukraine by purchasing weapons from American producers, they are welcome to do so, but the U.S. will no longer finance the conflict itself. This position was reiterated in multiple statements, including an interview on Fox News, where Vance highlighted the desire to move away from the 'Ukraine war business.' Concurrently, political strategist Steve Bannon called for Republicans to adopt a maximalist political approach against Democrats and institutions, expanding electoral gains in Texas. Bannon also warned against U.S. involvement in Europe’s conflicts, advocating for an 'America First' policy that rejects security guarantees to Ukraine, halts reconstruction efforts, and ends the deployment of U.S. combat troops in Europe. He criticized ongoing demands from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies for continued U.S. support, framing it as untenable and urging a decisive policy change.

Vice President JD Vance had arranged a dinner for 6 August at his official residence with Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to craft the Trump administration’s response to the continuing backlash over its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, according to multiple people familiar with the plans. The gathering was called off the next day after details leaked, a source said. A smaller, unpublicised meeting of senior officials was subsequently held at the White House, replacing the scrapped dinner and maintaining the focus on how to contain the political fallout from the Epstein files. Interviewed on Fox News at the weekend, Vance denied any meeting had taken place at his home and insisted the White House discussion was unrelated to Epstein. He added that President Donald Trump had ordered the compilation of thousands of documents for “full transparency.” Vance’s further claim that Epstein maintained extensive ties to “left-wing politicians and billionaires” has fuelled renewed demands from lawmakers and commentators for the administration to release all remaining records.

Vice President J.D. Vance has emerged as the early frontrunner for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, according to multiple polls including Rasmussen Reports and Emerson Polling. Rasmussen data shows Vance leading with 35% support among all GOP primary likely voters and 53% among Republican voters exclusively, surpassing other potential candidates such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, each polling at 10% among all GOP likely voters. Vance's polling performance reportedly exceeds former President Donald Trump's early primary numbers against DeSantis in 2024. In Texas, the 2026 Senate race remains competitive with incumbent Senator John Cornyn holding a narrow lead over Attorney General Ken Paxton in the GOP primary, with Cornyn at 30% and Paxton at 29%, according to Emerson Polling. In hypothetical general election matchups, Paxton leads Democratic challenger Colin Allred with 46% to 41%, while Cornyn holds 45% against Allred's 38%. On the Democratic side, Pete Buttigieg leads with 22% support in Texas, followed by Gavin Newsom at 20% and Kamala Harris at 17%. The GOP primary field for the Texas Senate race also includes other candidates, with a significant portion of voters still undecided. Additionally, Emerson Polling data indicates that in the 2028 Texas Republican primary for president, Vance leads with 45%, followed by Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio at 9% and 6%, respectively, and Governor Ron DeSantis at 6%.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Washington has “no plans” to recognize a Palestinian state, arguing that such a move would be premature given what he called the absence of a functional Palestinian government. He made the remark to reporters on Friday at Chevening House in Kent ahead of bilateral talks with U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Vance’s position sets the United States apart from Britain, France and Canada, all of which have signaled they may proceed with recognition in September unless Israel agrees to a Gaza cease-fire. While acknowledging a shared objective of ending the Israel-Hamas conflict, Vance said Washington and London “may have some disagreements about how exactly to accomplish that goal.” The vice president and Lammy are also hosting national-security advisers from Ukraine, the European Union and other allies at Chevening on Saturday. The U.S.-requested gathering aims to align positions before President Donald Trump’s planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15 in Alaska. Ahead of the session, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with both leaders calling the forum “vital” for advancing a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine.