President Donald Trump offered a vote of confidence in Vice President JD Vance during an Oval Office press conference on Tuesday, declaring that the two men “disagree on almost nothing.”
The remark came as the president announced the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program. Under the program, Trump pledged that anyone who successfully reports fraud to the government would be able to collect up to 1% of the money involved.
During the announcement, a reporter asked whether criminal charges would have to be brought in a case before any money is paid out to the person who reported the fraud.
The question prompted Trump to turn toward Vance before answering.
“I don’t think so,” the president said, looking back at his vice president.
Vance quickly backed him up.
“That’s the answer,” Vance said, laughing. He then told the reporter, “I’d quit while I was ahead.”
Trump continued, explaining why he had glanced at Vance before responding.
“I just wanted to — I don’t want to have you say we disagree on something. We disagree on almost nothing,” the president said.
“It’s hard to believe,” he added. “I figured if I answered it quickly, we don’t have a problem.”
Trump then clarified how the program would work, stressing that payouts would not hinge on prosecutions.
“It’s not a criminal thing. We hope that they go to jail. No. If we recover the money, that’s what it is. You get 1%,” Trump said.
The president also noted that the reporter asking the question would be eligible as well.
“That includes you. Go ahead, J.D.,” he said, handing the floor to Vance.
The vice president then explained that the program is not limited to cases that end in criminal prosecution.
“That’s it, sir. Our plan is not to limit this just to criminal prosecutions,” Vance said. “As the president said, if you find the money and you help us recover it, you benefit from the program.”
The show of unity in the Oval Office came just one day after Vance sat down with journalist Mark Halperin for Halperin’s “2WAY TONIGHT.” During that interview, the vice president said plainly that he did not know whether Trump would endorse him if he decided to run for president in 2028.
“I think if I run, the president will endorse me,” Vance told Halperin.
Halperin pressed further, asking whether that endorsement would come “right away.”
“I would think so, but I don’t know, man,” Vance answered. “I haven’t talked to him about it.”
Halperin suggested such an exchange between the two men would be unusual.
“It’d be kinda weird if you said to him, ‘Mr. President, I’m gonna run,’ and he said, ‘Yeah, let me think about it,’” Halperin said.
On Tuesday, however, the president made clear that, at least when it comes to his administration’s new fraud program, he and his vice president are on the same page.
[READ MORE: CNN’s Harry Enten Says Vance’s Favorability Has Slipped, Even in His Home State of Ohio]
