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Vance takes a break from Iran war to bomb Suozzi

June 17, 2026

Publication: Newsday - Daily Point

By: Rita Ciolli

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) arrives to speak on the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, on Aug. 21, 2024. | Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

Vice president sharply attacks Suozzi; gives a nod to LiPetri

Vice President JD Vance came to Nassau County Wednesday to speak about fraud and crime but his unexpectedly short and a bit odd remarks were quite the bait and switch.

The visit was billed as purely governmental and not political — although even that needed to be taken with a grain of salt — since it followed by a day the filing of a federal lawsuit against New York State for healthcare fraud. But the vice president’s focus turned into a scathing campaign attack on Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi on his home turf that surprised even some local Republicans in attendance.

And Vance bizarrely kept referring to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul as “Katie.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running to unseat Hochul, warmed up the crowd as did CD1 Rep. Nick LaLota, who is running for reelection. Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra made some remarks as did Mike LiPetri, the former Assembly member who faces a tough fight for the Republican nomination in CD3 before he can take on Suozzi.

Then the crowd, with only water and no food and no explanation, was kept waiting for more than an hour for Vance — who is the point man on the Iran ceasefire deal — to take the stage.

Apologizing for his hoarse voice, Vance blamed it on the tour for his new book “Communion” about his conversion to Catholicism, which he coyly said he couldn’t plug and then went on to do just that.

“I’ve been selling a book that I came out with,” Vance said, adding he’s not allowed to mention the book. “So I’m gonna tell you that Tom Suozzi — ‘cuz I’m not supposed to talk about the book — would definitely not buy the book ‘Communion’ by JD Vance, available everywhere books are sold starting yesterday.”

Suozzi is a lifelong Glen Cove Catholic whose faith is part of his identity.

Vance went on to repeatedly attack Suozzi for voting against Trump administration bills contending the CD3 representative was not representing the working class members of his district but instead aligned with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who isn’t exactly the ripe target she once was. His sharpest attacks came when, with no evidence, he said Suozzi used his insider knowledge of D.C. to his investment advantage.

Then there were more mentions of “Katie” Hochul and blaming Hochul and Suozzi for people not able to safely go out to dinner in New York City.

 

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