On Friday, Vice President JD Vance took to X to blast what he called “foreign influence” in a Politico report targeting Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy for peace missions and chief negotiator on Ukraine.
“This story from Politico is journalistic malpractice,” Vance wrote, tagging Politico correspondent Felicia Schwartz. “But it’s more than that: it’s a foreign influence operation meant to hurt the administration and one of our most effective members. Notice how all of the people attacking Steve are on background? That means it’s two or three deep staters who are angry that Witkoff has succeeded where they’ve failed.”
Vance made clear that he sees the article as an attempt not just to smear Witkoff, but to undermine Trump’s broader foreign policy success in shifting the conversation toward peace in Ukraine.
What the Politico Story Claimed
Schwartz’s piece, co-authored with Nahal Toosi and Jack Detsch, framed Witkoff as an inexperienced outsider whose “go-it-alone style” frustrates American, Ukrainian, and European officials. According to Schwartz, 13 anonymous sources—none of whom were willing to go on the record—painted Witkoff as someone who views the Ukraine conflict “through a real estate lens” and misses diplomatic details.
Politico’s reporting emphasized that Witkoff has met with Vladimir Putin five times in six months but claimed those meetings haven’t led to tangible breakthroughs. The piece also alleged Witkoff sometimes appeared “uninformed or unprepared,” citing unnamed U.S. and foreign officials.
One anonymous voice was quoted as saying, “His inexperience shines through, he has the president’s ear, which is evident, but there has been some confusion about what has been said and agreed.”
What Politico Left Out
Vance accused Politico of cherry-picking information to fit a predetermined narrative. He said the outlet deliberately left out quotes from him, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and senior advisor Jared Kushner—each of whom had praised Witkoff’s diplomatic efforts.
In fact, Vance had told Politico directly: “Witkoff has made more progress towards ending the bloodshed in Ukraine than all his critics combined.” That single line was briefly included, but stripped of context and buried among anonymous complaints.
According to Schwartz herself, the White House sent Politico a list of officials’ supportive quotes about Witkoff. Most were left on the cutting room floor.
The Larger Pattern: Anonymous Sources and Double Standards
The story is the latest example of the corporate media using anonymous leaks from entrenched bureaucrats to undermine Trump officials. Both Trump and Vance have criticized this practice for years, pointing out that it gives cover to partisan “deep state” operatives while denying the American people transparency.
By contrast, those willing to speak openly—Vance, Rubio, Kushner—were ignored or minimized in Politico’s coverage. The result is a slanted article that elevates anonymous gossip over the testimony of elected leaders and senior officials.
Why Witkoff Matters
Steve Witkoff, a successful real estate developer and longtime Trump ally, was tapped for a unique mission: break the stalemate on Ukraine by applying Trump’s outsider approach to diplomacy. Unlike career diplomats who have presided over endless wars and gridlock, Witkoff has leveraged direct relationships, including multiple meetings with Putin, to seek pragmatic solutions.
For Trump’s critics in the establishment, that makes him a threat. For everyday Americans who are weary of endless foreign wars, it makes him a symbol of a possible new path toward peace.
Vance: Media Trying to Derail Peace Efforts
Vance argued that the Politico piece is not just unfair journalism—it’s part of a deliberate effort to derail peace negotiations. “The quotes on Witkoff were meant to complicate and derail peace efforts,” he said, warning that anonymous smears serve the interests of those who profit from prolonging the war.
Republicans have long argued that entrenched Washington interests, including defense contractors and globalist bureaucrats, benefit from keeping conflicts alive rather than resolving them. By attacking Witkoff, Vance suggested, the media is doing their bidding.
The Takeaway
Politico’s story highlights a familiar clash: Trump’s America First agenda—focused on ending foreign wars and prioritizing U.S. interests—versus the entrenched establishment in Washington and its allies in the corporate media.
Vance’s defense of Witkoff signals that the White House isn’t backing down. Despite attacks from the press and anonymous bureaucrats, Trump and his team are determined to keep pursuing peace in Ukraine—an effort the mainstream media seems determined to undermine at every step
