Vance Faces Subdued Crowd at Georgia Event on Iran War, Pope Feud

In Athens, Georgia, Vice President JD Vance faced a subdued crowd of young conservatives during a campus event organized by Turning Point USA on Tuesday, highlighting growing unease among some supporters over President Donald Trump's handling of the ongoing war with Iran and his recent public disputes with Pope Leo XIV.

Vance arrived shortly after a lengthy diplomatic trip to Pakistan that ended without an agreement to halt U.S. military actions against Iran. The event, held in a mid-sized arena on the University of Georgia campus about 90 minutes from downtown Atlanta, drew far fewer attendees than expected. Supporters wearing Turning Point USA gear, Trump hats and red, white and blue accessories were outnumbered more than two to one by empty seats, a stark contrast to the energetic rallies that helped propel Trump back to the White House less than two years ago.

The gathering featured pointed questions and criticism, reflecting broader challenges in rallying support for the conflict. Vance, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and converted to Catholicism as an adult, fielded queries from Turning Point executive Andrew Kolvet after Erika Kirk, the group's leader and widow of...