Published
Jun 26, 2026 at 09:43 AM EDT
updated
Jun 26, 2026 at 09:44 AM EDT
Associate Editor
Vice President JD Vance has suggested the Watergate scandal was overblown, arguing it is “crazy” that it forced Republican Richard Nixon from office, and drawing parallels with President Donald Trump.
Vance said at the Nixon Library that Watergate would now be a “12-hour news story” and questioned how it ended a presidency.
The 1972 scandal exposed a president using the power of his office to obstruct justice, pressure institutions and orchestrate a cover-up. Nixon’s resignation cemented the precedent that presidents could be forced out not for a single act but for systemic abuse of power. Vance’s comments reopen the debate over how major political scandals are judged across generations and go to the heart of how voters assess accountability for modern presidents, including Trump.
Re-posting a widely shared video clip of the moment on X, CNN chief political commentator David Axelrod said Vance’s remarks were “mind-boggling,” outlining that the scandal involved a White House-directed burglary, a cover-up using federal agencies, criminal convictions for top aides, and recorded evidence of Nixon’s own role, adding that treating it as a “10 hour story” reflects “the moral and ethical degradation of the Trump era.”
Newsweek reached out to the White House and Vance’s office via email for comment.
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Vance made the remarks during an event at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in California on Thursday, where he praised the former president.
The Watergate scandal began in 1972 when operatives linked to the Republican president’s reelection campaign were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. What followed was far more consequential. Investigative reporting and congressional probes uncovered a coordinated effort to conceal the crime, including secret payments, pressure on federal investigators, and attempts to shape witness testimony.
White House recordings later revealed Nixon discussing how to contain the investigation, with historians pointing to clear evidence of obstruction of justice and broader abuses of presidential authority. The scandal expanded beyond the break-in, encompassing surveillance of political opponents, misuse of federal agencies, and an “enemies list” targeting critics.
Nixon resigned in August 1974—the only U.S. president to do so—triggering reforms aimed at strengthening oversight of the executive branch.
Vance argued that the same forces that brought down Nixon have also pursued Trump.
“I think Nixon’s historical legacy is enjoying a bit of a renaissance, and deservedly so,” he said.
“I joked that if Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be like a 12-hour news story. The idea that it took down a presidency is crazy.
“If you look at the story of how the deep state took down Richard Nixon. It is not all that different from what the same groups of people and institutions tried to do to Trump in the first Trump administration. There is a parallel.”
His remarks, which drew applause from the audience at the event, come as Trump continues to face scrutiny over a long list of investigations and legal battles that, taken together, have shaped his political career.
Trump’s political rise and presidency have unfolded alongside a series of overlapping legal and political crises, many of which produced historic firsts for a U.S. president.
July 2016 — Russia Election Interference Probe Begins
U.S. authorities open an investigation into Russian efforts to influence the election and possible links to Trump campaign figures, casting a shadow over his early presidency.
May 2017 — Special Counsel Investigation Launched
Robert Mueller is appointed to examine the coordination between Trump associates and Russia, dominating Washington for nearly two years.
September 2019 — Ukraine Pressure Campaign Begins
A whistleblower complaint alleges Trump pushed Ukraine’s president to investigate Joe Biden, raising concerns about foreign interference in U.S. elections.
December 2019 — Trump Impeached for First Time
The House charges Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress over the Ukraine scandal.
January 2020 — Senate Acquits in First Impeachment Trial
Trump remains in office after the Senate votes not to convict.
November 2020 — Effort to Overturn Election Begins
After losing to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, Trump and his allies pursue legal challenges and pressure state officials to change the results.
January 2021 — Capitol Riot and Second Impeachment
Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol as Congress certifies the election; Trump is impeached again for incitement of insurrection.
May 2023 — Classified Documents Indictment
Federal prosecutors charge Trump over retention of sensitive national security materials at Mar-a-Lago and alleged obstruction.
June 2023 — Federal Election Interference Charges
Trump is charged over efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, including alleged attempts to disrupt certification of Electoral College votes.
August 2023 — Georgia Racketeering Case Filed
Prosecutors accuse Trump and allies of a coordinated scheme to overturn election results in the state.
February 2024 — Civil Fraud Ruling
A New York judge finds Trump liable for inflating asset values to secure favorable loans and insurance terms.
May 2024 — Hush Money Criminal Conviction
Trump is convicted on 34 felony counts tied to falsified business records linked to payments made during the 2016 campaign.
January 2025 — Sentencing in Hush Money Case
Trump receives a sentence without jail time, but the conviction marks a historic legal milestone for a former president.
2025–2026 — Ongoing Second-Term Ethics Controversy
Criticism continues over potential conflicts between Trump’s business interests and government decision-making.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: John Fitzpatrick and Sam Wilson.
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