UK 'First Truly Islamist Country With Nuclear Weapon', Says Trump's Vice-Presidential Pick J D Vance

JD Vance, who was recently named as former US President Donald Trump's running mate, sparked a controversy with his statement suggesting that the UK, under a Labour government, could become the first "truly Islamist" nation to possess nuclear weapons.

Vance said he had been discussing with a friend which country would be the first "truly Islamist country that will get a nuclear weapon".

"Maybe it's Iran, maybe Pakistan kind of counts, and then we sort of decided maybe it's actually the UK since Labour just took over," he said last week at a conference for UK Conservatives last week.

However, Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner dismissed Vance's remarks, noting his tendency for making "fruity" statements.

Rayner said that the UK would collaborate with whoever wins the upcoming US presidential election, adding that, "I don't recognise that characterisation."

"We're interested in governing on behalf of Britain, and also working with our international allies," she said.

In his first interview with Fox News after being selected as the Republican Vice Presidential candidate, Vance also identified China as the primary threat to America, underscoring the likely hawkish stance of their administration toward Beijing if elected.

 When asked about the war in Ukraine, Vance said Trump would negotiate with Moscow and Kyiv to "bring this thing to a rapid close so America can focus on the real issue, which is China."

"That's the biggest threat to our country and we are completely distracted from it," he said

Vance, 39, was selected by Trump shortly after an unsuccessful assassination attempt on the former US president.

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