Vice President J.D. Vance said the most surprising aspect of working with President Donald Trump is that the president “doesn’t have an off switch,” describing a pattern of calls that come at all hours of the night and early morning.
Vance made the comments during an interview with Lara Trump on Fox News when asked what has surprised him most about being vice president. “One thing I’ve learned just working with him every day is, he doesn’t have an off switch,” Vance said, adding that Trump will “call you at 12:30 or at 2 in the morning and then he’ll call you at 6 in the morning about a totally different topic.” Vance said he sometimes finds himself asking, “Mr. President, did you go to sleep last night? Like, what is going on here?”
Vance’s description aligns with public accounts from other administration officials who have described late-night calls and a demanding schedule from the president. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told reporters in July that Trump often rings him around 1 a.m., just after Lutnick gets into bed. Reports of Trump’s late-night calls trace back further, including published accounts of extended phone conversations with Fox News host Sean Hannity that emerged in 2018.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who serves as the administration’s health and human services secretary, said last month that Trump calls him several times a week about health policy. Kennedy did not detail the times of his calls.
Trump’s office has not issued a response to Vance’s remarks. Vance framed his comments in the context of adapting to the rhythms of the presidency rather than as a criticism, and the interview was broadly congenial in tone.
Public reporting has frequently noted the president’s short sleep schedule; several outlets have cited people familiar with his routine saying he typically sleeps less than five hours a night. Those accounts, combined with aides’ remarks about late-hour calls, have prompted ongoing attention from journalists and commentators to how the president manages time and communications.
Vance’s interview with Lara Trump is the most recent in a series of public remarks by administration officials that shed light on the president’s working habits. Such accounts have occasionally surfaced during presidential administrations, as aides and allies describe the tempo of interactions with the commander in chief.
The comments come as Vance continues to serve as vice president, playing a role in policy discussions and public-facing events. They also add to a patchwork of anecdotes that reporters and historians may use to assess the daily operations of the Trump White House. Independent verification of the frequency and timing of any individual calls is limited to the statements by the officials who have recounted them.