JD Vance Comments on Being One of Last People to See Pope Alive
'I thought a lot about that, it's pretty crazy actually,' Vance told reporters while on a visit to Agra, India,on the tarmac on Wednesday.
'Obviously I was able to see him very briefly the morning of Easter Sunday. I knew he was very ill, I didn't realize how sick he was. The thing that I will always remember Pope Francis for is that he was a great pastor. People on the margins, poor people, people suffering from diseases, they saw in Pope Francis an advocate, and I think a true expression of Christian love.'
Pope Francis has had a tenuous relationship with Trump, Vance, and the Christian right in America for the entirety of his papacy. He was a noted environmentalist who often chastised the Trump administration on its lack of humanity on immigration and climate change and its misuse of Catholic Social Teaching.
Pope Francis's funeral will be held on Saturday, according to the Vatican.
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Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
JD Vance's Motorcade While on Vacation Comes Under Scrutiny
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. JD Vance has been mocked over the "ridiculous" scale of his motorcade during a holiday in the English countryside, by a former aide to Tony Blair. Vance and his family—including his wife, Usha, 39, and children, Ewan, 8, Vivek, 5, and Mirabel, 3—pitched up this week at a manor house in the Cotswolds with a full entourage. Why It Matters And the scale of the security operation appears to have caught off guard some local residents who are used to King Charles III's more discrete team when he visits his home in the area, on Highgrove Estate. U.S. Vice President JD Vance listens as U.S. President Donald Trump meets with NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte in the Oval Office at the White House on July 14, 2025. U.S. Vice President JD Vance listens as U.S. President Donald Trump meets with NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte in the Oval Office at the White House on July 14, People Are Saying Alastair Campbell was Blair's Downing Street spokesman during his time as Labour Party Prime Minister but now co-hosts a podcast, The Rest is Politics, alongside Rory Stewart, a former Conservative Party MP who once ran for party leader. On the latest episode, Campbell told Stewart: "He's then going around and, you know the Cotswolds, I mean, why does he have to have this? It's like a status symbol. As we discuss on @RestIsPolitics today when the King goes to Highgrove he has a couple of cars and maybe a motor bike outrider or two. This guy comes for a holiday and has 23 cars and a bike squad traipsing around, and the same again at his next port of call. It's about status... — ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) August 13, 2025 "I was talking to somebody who saw the security operation around Vance. They said it was ridiculous. To do a three-point turn the convoy needed about an hour, you know, when it got stuck down one of these little country roads. "And he has an ambulance going after him. I mean, he's only the f****** Vice President of America. "When the king—when your friend the king—wanders off down to Highgrove, what does he have? A couple of cars?" Stewart said: "Exactly. Or when he's doing the Windsor Flower Show, he's going around shaking hand after hand after hand in the middle of a crowd in a way that American presidents or vice presidents never would." One account on X went viral with 1.6 million views and 40k likes after joking: "Dear [U.S. flag], can you please come and get Vance back from our country? He's turned up with a 27-car entourage and is demanding to know the social media handles of local residents. It's not what we do here. Please come quickly." Newsweek contacted the Vice President's Office for comment. What to Know Security is a hugely important subject to the royal family and Prince Harry mounted multiple lawsuits in an attempt to have his reinstated after quitting the palace in 2020. However, the protection detail is generally substantially smaller than the Vance's even when attending official events. Video footage showed Vance's convoy included 27 vehicles: four police motorcycle outriders, 21 unmarked cars with blacked out windows, seemingly a Ford F‑550 ambulance, and a marked police SUV. By contrast, during a recent visit to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, in July, the king's convoy included four cars and three police motorcycle outriders. King Charles's convoy passing through central Headington today on its way to the Centre for Islamic Studies — Headington News (@HeadingtonNews) July 17, 2025 The backlash against Vance's security operation was not confined to political commentators, U.K. newspaper of record The Times spoke to two older women whose usual walking route was blocked by the policing operation. "I told the police 'we are two old ladies, we are hardly terrorists'," one said. "We said 'you poor things, guarding this awful man'. It must be costing us a fortune. Another few thousand pounds down the pan." Roads and footpaths were shut, sniffer dogs deployed, and checkpoints erected, leaving elderly locals frustrated at unexpected lockdowns around their hamlet. Vance traveled to the Cotswolds from a private fishing retreat at Chevening, the grace and favor estate of the British Foreign Secretary, currently David Lammy. On the way, he had a private tour of Hampton Court Palace, which delayed public opening times, before he continued on to the Grade-II–listed manor in the Cotswolds. Upon reaching the historic Dean Manor in Oxfordshire, the motorcade set up a full-scale security perimeter. Meanwhile, The Times quoted Johnny and Pippa Hornby, the millionaire owners of Dean Manor, who apologized to locals for "the circus for the next few days," saying they hoped it would not be "too disruptive." Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page. Do you have a question about Charles and Queen Camilla, William and Kate, Meghan Markle and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@ We'd love to hear from you.
CNBC
3 hours ago
- CNBC
Blocked roads and high security: What it means when JD Vance comes to town
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance's summer trip to the quintessentially British spot the Cotswolds has been heavily criticized by some locals — not least because of heightened security measures, including police roadblocks and check points. Earlier this week, Vance visited the area as part of a working holiday, which has also included meetings with various U.K. political leaders, such as Foreign Minister David Lammy. Thames Valley Police were "supporting the United States during the Vice President's visit to our area to ensure the safety of all involved. A restricted access area has been put in place in a small part of Dean as part of our operation," a spokesperson said in a statement shared with CNBC. Footage shared online also appeared to show that roads had been cleared to allow for the passage of Vance's large motorcade, with a U.K. police escort accompanying the convoy. The vehicles seem to have been flown across the Atlantic for Vance's visit, which is common for the U.S. administration according to media reports. As the U.S. vice president's journey continued into Scotland, police were once more present — this time watching out for people who had gathered to witness Vance touch down. An extensive motorcade also waited for the U.S. official and his family on the runway. While heightened security is common when top world officials travel, the measures reportedly implemented in the Cotswolds on this occasion have drawn additional attention. Claims have emerged on social media that residents were asked for their social media accounts and had to provide the names of everyone in their households. Local police denied the claims, which CNBC could not independently verify. "We spoke to affected residents to ensure we are able to facilitate movement within the restricted access area. Residents were under no obligation to answer any questions and were not asked about social media," a spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said. Vance's visit to the Cotswolds also gave locals the opportunity to celebrate — by way of a so-called 'Vance not welcome party.' A spokesperson for the Stop Trump Coalition, which organized the protest, told CNBC on Wednesday that the gathering of around 80 people — mostly locals — was "joyous," with a "wonderful" atmosphere. Protestors were seen holding banners and placards expressing their frustration about Vance and the wider U.S. administration, as well as mocking the vice president. A meme depicting Vance as bald was also incorporated widely, having been printed on balloons and even on a billboard in a nearby town. The Cotswolds region is popular among politicians and celebrities, with many seemingly drawn to the picturesque landscape for its privacy. Former British Prime Minister David Cameron is a resident, along with various TV personalities, actors and musicians are residents. Earlier this year, former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris was also spotted visiting the region, accompanied by secret service agents, as she attended the wedding of the late Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs' daughter. But not all locals see the interest in their home region as a positive. Local news has repeatedly reported concerns about overdevelopment, increased demand for housing and added pressure on infrastructure.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ron Howard Gets Some Hate After Giving ‘Cowardly' Responses To Questions About JD Vance
Director Ron Howard seems to want to think about anything other than politics — especially when it comes to Vice President JD Vance. In an interview published Wednesday, Vulture asked the filmmaker what he thinks about the legacy of his 2020 film, 'Hillbilly Elegy.' 'I don't think about it,' Howard said. 'I know it's a mixed bag and probably quite culturally divided. I also know that reviews were bad and the audience-reaction rating was pretty good.' 'Hillbilly Elegy' is based on Vance's best-selling 2016 memoir of the same name, which propelled him to national fame. Howard worked with the then-venture capitalist on the movie and spent time with him while they were promoting the film. Despite Howard's rather neutral response about his film, Vulture continued to press the topic of Vance, asking the director if he's 'able to reconcile the person you knew and the character in the movie with the person you see now?' 'Am I able to reconcile? Well, it's happened, so I know what I've observed,' Howard said. 'It remains a bit of a surprise to me. I would not have seen it coming, and I wouldn't have expected his rhetoric to be as divisive as it sometimes is. By the way, I'm not following him or listening to every word.' The 'Frost/Nixon' director's implication that he tunes out politics — or at least, Vance — to some degree seemed to irk a few people on X, formerly Twitter — considering Vance is now President Donald Trump's vice president. 'May we all have the luxury of non-thought!' one user said. 'Sorry Ron, but you can no longer sit on the fence in these times,' another said. 'this is such a cowardly answer,' a third echoed. The consequences of Trump's policies — which range from weak jobs numbers to forced disappearances — have trickled into Howard's own industry. CBS suspiciously canceled the 'Late Show' last month after host Stephen Colbert criticized parent company Paramount's recent settlement with Trump. The president has publicly threatened others in the entertainment business, including but not limited to Joy Behar, Jimmy Kimmel and Beyoncé. Howard did, however, offer Vulture a few tidbits about Vance that have nothing to do with the policies he's helping to peddle. Vance was indeed 'frustrated' by critics panning 'Hillbilly Elegy,' the director confirmed. 'He felt that, just as reviews had kind of turned on the book, his involvement was in some way tainting or coloring the critical response, and he resented it,' Howard said. The 'Beautiful Mind' director also admitted that Vance's 'run for Senate and the strategy he's chosen to follow' are not what he expected. Howard revealed that he did text Vance shortly after the 2024 presidential election. 'I did one text, after the election,' Howard said. 'Which was just sort of 'Godspeed. Try to serve us well.'' Related... JD Vance Just Addressed Trump's Comments On Who Will Be His Supposed MAGA 'Heir' JD Vance Sends A Clear Message To Elon Musk Following His Public Feud With Trump JD Vance Wonders If Other VPs Had This Much 'Excitement' — Social Media Says, 'Ask Mike Pence'
