By Innovation Times U.S. Politics Desk
October 13, 2025 | Washington, D.C.
A live interview on ABC News turned tense Sunday morning when anchor George Stephanopoulos abruptly ended a conversation with Senator JD Vance following a sharp on-air clash over former ICE Director Tom Homan and U.S. immigration policy.
The confrontation occurred during an episode of This Week with George Stephanopoulos, when Vance defended Homan amid Democratic criticism of his potential appointment to a senior border security role in a future Republican administration. Stephanopoulos pressed Vance repeatedly on Homan’s past comments regarding immigration enforcement, which have drawn controversy for their tone and alleged harshness toward migrant communities.
“I think Tom Homan did his job under very difficult circumstances,” Vance said, calling Homan “a patriot who believes in law and order.” He added, “The real failure isn’t Tom Homan’s leadership , it’s Washington’s refusal to secure our border.”
Stephanopoulos interjected, challenging Vance on Homan’s previous remarks about family separations and deportation raids. “Senator, do you believe comments like that reflect the values of the United States?” he asked.
When Vance accused the media of “twisting” Homan’s record and labeled the questioning as “partisan nonsense,” Stephanopoulos cut in, saying, “We’re going to have to leave it there, Senator.” The host then transitioned to the next segment, ending the interview abruptly.
The exchange quickly went viral on social media, with both supporters and critics weighing in. Conservative commentators praised Vance for “standing up to mainstream media bias,” while liberal analysts argued that the senator avoided answering substantive policy questions. Clips of the segment racked up hundreds of thousands of views within hours of airing.
A spokesperson for ABC News later said the decision to end the interview was made “for time and editorial reasons.” However, insiders noted that the tension between Stephanopoulos and several high-profile Republican guests has grown in recent months as the 2025 presidential race intensifies.
Vance, a rising GOP figure and one of former President Donald Trump’s staunchest allies in the Senate, has used recent television appearances to push a hardline immigration message and defend potential Trump appointees. Homan, who led the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency during Trump’s first term, remains a polarizing figure due to his aggressive enforcement tactics and outspoken criticism of the Biden administration’s border policies.
Political observers say the clash reflects the increasingly combative tone between major media outlets and Republican lawmakers as immigration remains a central issue ahead of the 2025 election.
