By Paul Bean

In a recent NBC News interview covering topics from his personal life to potential 2028 ambitions and rising antisemitism, Vice President JD Vance shared his respect for three progressive political figures: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (D).

When asked about Democrats who might concern him as future contenders, Vance highlighted these politicians for their willingness to listen to voters.

“I’ve always been fascinated by Bernie,” Vance said. “I will one day tell you what Bernie said to me, like the second day that I was in the United States Senate. It’s one of the funniest things that I’ve ever heard, and it’s actually a pretty good summary of my politics, but it would probably really hurt me on both the left and the right. If I told you what Bernie told me, it would probably hurt Bernie, too.”

In the interview Vance acknowledged that he has clashed with Khanna on social media but added that the congressman sometimes stands out positively: while he at times thinks Khanna is “very annoying … he occasionally will say something interesting, which is more than I could say for most politicians.”

Regarding Mamdani, a democratic socialist whom Vance, echoing President Trump, described as a communist, the vice president praised his campaign emphasis on economic issues. 

He said Mamdani focusing “so aggressively on the affordability question in New York City, which does have one of the worst affordability crises anywhere in the world, is smart, and he’s at least listening to people.”

After referencing Trump’s recent meeting with Mamdani, which led Vance to call the mayor-elect “fascinating,” he broadened his point:  “Obviously, I’m not a communist, and I think he is,” Vance added, “but the fact that he focuses so aggressively on the affordability question in New York City, which does have one of the worst affordability crises anywhere in the world, is smart, and he’s at least listening to people.

“Most politicians, it’s a very low bar, but they don’t even listen to people,” Vance added. “I would put Mamdani, Bernie and Ro Khanna in the category of those who, at least sometimes, they are.”

Despite commending their focus on affordability, Vance pushed back on Democratic criticism of the administration’s handling of the issue, calling it overstated.

“I think the president certainly understands that prices got way too high,” Vance said. “But I think what the president’s saying is the idea that, 11 months into the administration, that we could solve all of the affordability problems created by Democrats, I mean, that’s the hoax. The hoax is the idea that it’s our fault and not the Democrats’ fault. And I do think that’s a totally BS narrative.”

Vance also emphasized his loyalty to Trump and his desire to avoid 2028 speculation for now.

“The president really needs a vice president who is loyal to him and doesn’t use the media to backstab or to set himself up well for 2028,” Vance told NBC News. “So, what you will never hear me do in this job is attack the president of the United States.”

“Of course, if I run for another office in the future, it’s going to be reasonable for people to ask me, ‘Would you have done this thing? Would you have done that thing?’” the vice president added. “And if that time ever comes, let’s have that conversation. But I am never going to attack the president of the United States.”