Hillary Clinton Says Republicans Acted During Watergate But Now ‘Roll Over’ For Trump After JD Vance Praises Nixon, Economist Says Party Already Changed

Vice President JD Vance‘s recent praise of former President Richard Nixon drew criticisms from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and economist Peter Schiff, with Clinton saying today’s Republican Party rolls over for President Donald Trump, while Schiff believes Vance wants to return the party to the Nixon era.

Schiff Says Vance Wants A Return To The Nixon Era

Schiff, in a post on X Sunday, said that the Republican Party was once dominated by liberal “Rockefeller Republicans,” while conservative “Goldwater Republicans” remained a minority until “Reagan led a successful conservative revolution.”

On Thursday, Vance said the Watergate scandal that led to Nixon’s resignation would have been “like a 12-hour news story” in today’s media environment and argued that the “deep state” targeted Nixon in much the same way it later targeted Trump’s first administration.

“JD Vance wants to return the party to the Nixon era,” Schiff said.

The Republican Party was once dominated by liberal Republicans, known as Rockefeller Republicans. Conservative Republicans, known as Goldwater Republicans, were a minority until Reagan led a successful conservative revolution. @JDVance wants to return the party to the Nixon era.

— Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) June 28, 2026

Vance’s remarks also drew criticism from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who said on Saturday, “the difference between Watergate and now is that back then, Republicans actually did something about a law-breaking president. Today, they only roll over for their cult leader.”

Maybe Vance doesn’t know this history because it’s in one of the books his administration banned.

The difference between Watergate and now is that back then, Republicans actually did something about a law-breaking president. Today, they only roll over for their cult leader. pic.twitter.com/LO01hbE92T

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 27, 2026

Schiff On The GOP’s Ideological Shift

When asked by an X user whether today’s Republican Party is still a Goldwater Republican party, Schiff replied, “No, it’s already been changed.”

No, it’s already been changed. The change started with Bush. The Trump pushed it further in that direction.

— Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) June 28, 2026

He added that the shift began under former President George W. Bush before Trump “pushed it further in that direction.”

Vance Draws Parallels To Nixon

Vance made the remarks while speaking at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library during an event promoting his new book, Communion.

Vance also said Nixon’s legacy is “enjoying a bit of a renaissance” and that he has “always liked Richard Nixon.”

Nixon resigned in 1974 after the Watergate scandal, which centered on the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the subsequent cover-up.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo Courtesy: Evan El-Amin on Shutterstock.com