Axios: Trump’s “Swiss Army” tools

Posted on June 30, 2026 by michelleclarke2015
Trump’s “Swiss Army” tools
 
Photo illustration of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance as folding tools on a swiss army knife featuring the word
Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: Getty Images
 
Axios’ Marc Caputo and Barak Ravid bring us this intel from inside the White House:

As President Trump tries to hammer out a peace deal with Iran, he has a dovish adviser in Vice President Vance perched on one figurative shoulder — and a hawkish Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the other.

Why it matters: The success of the talks — and therefore the health of global oil markets — greatly depends on how well Trump deploys each man to balance competing interests in Iran, Israel and Lebanon.

A top Trump adviser told us: “Think of Marco and JD as aspects of the president’s personality and policy. There’s a more pro-Israel aspect of it, and that’s Rubio. And there’s a more Israel-skeptic aspect. That’s JD.”

🔎 Zoom in: Vance and Rubio differed during internal deliberations about the landmark June 17 memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and Iran.

Vance negotiated the deal with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The VP thought Trump should sign off to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stabilize the economy ahead of the midterms, according to several U.S. sources.

Rubio, with CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was skeptical of the MOU and the chances it could lead to a comprehensive nuclear deal.

Between the lines: The negotiations are complex because they’re trilateral, involving Israel, Iran and Lebanon. They include three agreements:

The MOU signed on June 17 between Iran and the U.S.

A June 21 agreement Vance struck with Iran in Switzerland concerning Lebanon.

A peace framework, shepherded by Rubio, signed Friday by Israel and Lebanon.

Friction point: On Rubio’s track, the parties worked to block Iran from interfering in Lebanon. But Vance’s track gave the Iranians a say in the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which the U.S. classifies as an Iran-backed terrorist group.

The two tracks collided. Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon were furious, declared Rubio’s deal null and void, and demanded that the parties abide by the U.S.–Iran MOU negotiated by Vance.

Said another U.S. official, playing down the situation: “To the Iranians, the deals conflict. To us, they do not. It depends on how you interpret those clauses.”

👀 The intrigue: U.S. officials say the result of the Iran negotiations could have domestic political implications — especially for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination.

One U.S. official said Rubio didn’t take the front seat in the Iran negotiations for a reason: “He is waiting to see if Vance self-destructs.

“But another senior U.S. official called that characterization “boneheaded and wrong. Both Marco and JD are executing the president’s will.

“White House principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said: “There is one camp — President Trump’s camp — and the entire administration is fully behind the president’s efforts to ensure Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon.”Share this story.
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About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
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