“Is There Something Wrong with Diplomacy?” Vance Responds to Questions About Trump-Putin Calls
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Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) may have unintentionally highlighted important concerns surrounding former President Donald Trump’s reported phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a Washington Post analyst.
Journalist Bob Woodward reports that Trump has had up to seven phone calls with Putin since leaving office in 2021, even providing COVID-19 tests to the Russian leader. Vance was questioned on Tuesday about Woodward’s reporting, specifically if he had discussed these calls with Trump.
“I — I — I honestly didn’t know that Bob Woodward was still alive until you asked me that question,” Vance joked. “What little I know about Bob Woodward is that he is — I’m going to use a word here — he is a hack. The guy’s a hack.” He also stated that he’s “never” had such a conversation with Trump.
Vance went further, questioning the premise itself: “Even if it’s true. Is there something wrong with speaking to world leaders? No. Is there anything wrong with engaging in diplomacy?” Washington Post analyst Aaron Blake pointed out that the questions raised by the reporting are valid, especially considering Trump’s “cozy” relationship with Putin. Among the critical questions Blake posed was: “Why the continued cloak-and-dagger on Trump’s talks with Putin? Did any such conversations continue after Russia invaded a U.S. ally, Ukraine, in February 2022, and pertain to that?”
Blake argued that Vance, perhaps unintentionally, underscored the significance of these questions. He noted that engaging in “shadowy diplomacy” could be unlawful for a former elected official, referencing the Logan Act—a federal law prohibiting unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments.
Blake further highlighted the irony, citing Trump’s own actions when it came to similar behavior by a Democrat. Trump had pushed for, and apparently succeeded in, getting former Secretary of State John Kerry investigated for alleged “shadow diplomacy.” Blake explained, “Trump not only pushed for but also apparently succeeded in getting a political opponent, former secretary of state John Kerry, investigated for alleged ‘shadow diplomacy.'”
Former U.S. attorney Geoffrey Berman, in his book, revealed that the Justice Department under Trump referred the Kerry case to prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, who ultimately declined to press charges.
The Trump campaign has denied Woodward’s claims, but Vance’s remarks acknowledging that Trump may have engaged in “diplomacy” raises questions about the legality of these interactions under the Logan Act—a law that, while historically unprosecuted, remains in place.
