Vice President JD Vance asserted on Thursday that the Watergate scandal, which culminated in President Richard Nixon's resignation, would be a brief news cycle event in today's media environment. Vance also drew parallels between Nixon and former President Donald Trump, suggesting that both were targeted by "deep state" forces.
Vance shared his admiration for Nixon during a discussion at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California. He spoke at the library while promoting his new book, "Communion," and is widely anticipated to be a presidential contender in 2028.
Following remarks about his book and personal faith journey, Vance turned to Nixon, stating that the 37th president's legacy is "enjoying a bit of a renaissance."
"If Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be like a 12-hour news story. The idea that it would have taken down a presidency is crazy," Vance said. He elaborated, "If you look at the story of how the deep state took down Richard Nixon, it’s not all that different from what the same groups of people, the same institutions tried to do to Donald Trump in the first Trump administration."
Vance also highlighted similarities he perceives between himself and Nixon. "Young senator, vice president, writes some bestselling books, is hated by the media," he said. "It kind of sounds like JD Vance. I've always liked Richard Nixon."
Nixon resigned from the presidency in 1974 during his second term, amidst the Watergate scandal. The scandal involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex and subsequent efforts to cover up the White House's involvement.