JD Vance visited Iowa on Tuesday, sharing a poignant story about meeting Gold Star families, including one who lost a son in the Iran war. The emotional address highlighted his personal conflict between Trump’s foreign policy and his own skepticism about military engagement. Speaking at the Des Moines airport, Vance reflected on his 6-year-old son’s future, acknowledging both pride and fear if the child pursued a military career. His remarks underscored the political tightrope he walks as a potential 2028 Republican candidate tied to Trump’s unpopular "forever war" legacy.

The trip aimed to bolster Rep. Zach Nunn, a vulnerable GOP incumbent, but also served as a strategic outreach to Iowa’s conservative power brokers. Vance met with state party chairman Jeff Kaufmann, evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats, and talk show host Steve Deace, all key figures in the state’s GOP machinery. While his speech stumbled at times—losing his notes and referencing ethanol policies—the event solidified his role as front-runner in early polls for the 2028 nomination, despite low approval ratings (35% favorable, 48% unfavorable).

Republican voters expressed mixed loyalties, with some praising Vance’s authenticity but others backing Marco Rubio as a preferred alternative. A retiree noted, “Between Vance and Rubio, I love Marco Rubio,” while another called their potential partnership “phenomenal.” Meanwhile, Vance’s team leverages his finance chair role at the RNC to court wealthy donors, avoiding expanded campaign operations. His advisors remain tight-knit, focusing on Trump’s endorsement and caucus momentum.

The Iran conflict’s unpopularity looms large, with polls showing it as divisive as the Vietnam or Iraq Wars. Only 19% of adults deemed military action successful, including 46% of Republicans. As Vance balances loyalty to Trump with distancing from the war’s fallout, his Iowa visit signals the high-stakes groundwork for a 2028 bid amid a fractured GOP electorate.