At Turning Point event, Vance met with mostly empty arena and Iran concerns

Key Points:

• Vice President JD Vance visited a Turning Point USA event in Athens, Georgia, following an unsuccessful diplomatic trip to Pakistan aimed at ending the war with Iran, but faced a largely empty arena and critical questions from attendees.
• The event highlighted challenges for former President Donald Trump in rallying support for the war, especially after his controversial social media meme depicting himself as Jesus and his attacks on Pope Leo XIV, which alienated some conservative supporters.
• Audience members expressed mixed reactions, with some criticizing Trump's actions as distractions or distasteful, while others, including Vance, urged young conservatives not to disengage despite disagreements on issues like the war and the pope's involvement in politics.
• Vance initially downplayed the controversy over the pope, suggesting the Vatican should focus on church matters rather than global policy, but later softened his stance by welcoming the pope's comments as conversation starters, though he cautioned against mixing theology with political issues.
• The event underscored internal divisions within the conservative base over U.S. foreign policy, Trump's leadership style, and the role of religious figures in political discourse.