Vice President Vance’s role as President Trump’s chief defender poses a growing challenge as the administration faces mounting perceptions of inside dealing and corruption. Vance on Monday said the idea of Trump using the White House for personal enrichment was “laughable” and, during a CBS News town hall over the weekend, he said he doesn’t see evidence of corruption. That puts him increasingly out of step with most voters, including an expanding segment of Republicans.

Six in 10 respondents to a recent Fox News survey said they were extremely concerned about government corruption, putting it ahead of other key issues like inflation and healthcare. Nearly 2 in 3 Americans say Trump is using the presidency to enrich himself, according to a new Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll. It found that most of the increase over the past year comes from Republicans and independents who lean Republican — a 12-point difference from September 2025.

“What else are you supposed to say?” one GOP strategist told The Hill. “Whether you do or you don’t, you’re still never going to say yes.”“I see what the polls are saying, but the polls may change completely on this issue, and it's an issue that bedevils both parties,” the strategist said. Trump has seen a net worth increase since his win in 2024, as his family has made money from cryptocurrency ventures and his own stock trades. Trump’s annual financial disclosure, released in late June, showed the president made more than $1 billion from his various crypto ventures last year.

Democrats have already vowed to investigate Trump and administration officials for corruption if they retake control of Congress. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on social media wrote, “JD [Vance] – I’ve got 15 free minutes before my son’s hockey practice ends, so let me see how many of Trump's enrichment schemes you didn't see that I can remind you of,” followed by a list of ways Trump has made money off the presidency.

“Listen man, we get it,” Murphy wrote, still addressing the vice president. “If you work for Trump, you agree to lie and let your boss steal from taxpayers. But NO ONE believes you.”Vance’s office did not respond to a request for comment. “I think most people understand that Trump has made a substantial amount of money on ventures that the government regulates, and that people around him are making a substantial amount of money, whether it be family members or aides or ex-aides,” Arizona-based GOP strategist Barrett Marson said.

“The money is free-flowing to people in or connected to the Trump administration. I'm not sure that you can deny that reality.”Vance is “just trying to be a defender,” Marson said. One national political consultant told The Hill that Vance’s comments “speak to a larger issue should he run for president.”“Not necessarily his thoughts on corruption, but his inability to separate from Trump on virtually everything,” the national political consultant said.

“[Former Vice President] Kamala Harris lost for a variety of reasons, but one of them was when she was on 'The View' when she was unable to offer any critique of the Biden administration. In what world is JD Vance allowed to say anything critical of President Trump?”The unnamed GOP strategist argued that “every Republican who becomes the nominee — the Democrats are going to try to make them answer for Trump in every way, shape or form.”Trump’s approval rating hit a record low in the Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll from over the weekend — 33 percent approval.

It’s an 8-point difference from this time last year. The national political consultant said that if a GOP candidate wants to win in 2028, they’re going to have to create separation “that doesn't completely p--- off Donald Trump.”“I mean, if Trump continues to be this unpopular, they're going to have no choice,” the political consultant noted. But Marson said Vance might not have to talk about corruption.

“For someone like JD Vance, if he’s not involved, that’s for other people to answer,” Marson said. “If President Trump or a Cabinet secretary or an ambassador is doing something wrong, that’s something for them to answer to.”He said that Vance, who chairs the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, could pivot and talk about his progress. Vance has held meetings and roundtables with officials, including two press briefings, to highlight the fraud they’ve found.

He also appeared Tuesday with Trump in the Oval Office to announce a $25 million whistleblower program that would pay money to those who tip off the government about fraudsters. The GOP strategist agreed, saying, “The anti-fraud stuff really plays well for him, and he can say, ‘Hey, look, this is what I did.’”