Over Sunday and Monday (April 19-20, 2026), Trump made a series of publicly contradictory statements about VP Vance's role in Iran peace talks that his own White House couldn't keep straight.
Sunday: Trump told ABC's Jonathan Karl that Vance would NOT be going to Pakistan — “It's only because of security.” Shortly after Karl broadcast this, press secretary Leavitt told reporters Vance WAS going. UN Ambassador Waltz and Energy Secretary Wright also went on TV saying Vance would lead the delegation.
Monday morning: Trump told the New York Post that Vance was “already in the air” heading to Islamabad. Minutes later, Vance's motorcade was spotted arriving at the White House. CNN confirmed Vance was expected to depart Tuesday for talks beginning Wednesday.
Separately, Trump publicly contradicted his own Energy Secretary on gas prices. Wright told CNN prices wouldn't fall below $3/gallon until at least 2027. Trump told The Hill that Wright was “totally wrong.”
CNN's Daniel Dale wrote a comprehensive analysis: “Even Trump's most basic claims about the Iran war can't be trusted.” He documented the pattern: Trump falsely claimed the Strait was “open” (Iran closed it the next day), falsely said the Pope endorsed Iran having nukes (Pants on Fire), falsely said Iran's military was “gone” (it wasn't), and falsely said Iran “agreed to everything” (they denied it).
This follows the WSJ revelation that Trump was physically kept out of the Situation Room and that his war decisions are “broadly improvised without coordination with advisers.”