In a brief and unpublicized visit to Montana on Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance had discussions with media mogul Rupert Murdoch, his son Lachlan Murdoch who leads Fox News and News Corp., as well as other Fox News executives. Two sources, who preferred to remain anonymous because they are not sanctioned to talk about this officially, revealed the meeting took place at the Murdoch family ranch located near Dillon, in the southwestern part of the state.
This unexpected rendezvous has raised questions as neither the specific topics of discussion nor the purpose of the vice president’s dialogue with the media executives have been disclosed. A request for comments from Fox News Channel did not receive a response.
Vice President Vance’s movements are not typically included in a publicly available schedule, so the sudden arrival of Air Force Two in Butte, Montana, spurred local discussions when his motorcade was spotted. The Murdoch ranch, purchased in 2021, spans across two valleys and a mountain range, housing around 12,000 cattle. It’s located about 70 miles south of Butte, adjacent to Yellowstone National Park and close to the Montana-Idaho border.
Federal Aviation Administration issued flight restrictions noted that the vice presidential aircraft was grounded for only a few hours. This short visit was squeezed into Vice President Vance’s schedule before a planned lunch with President Donald Trump in Washington the following day, implying a quick return journey across approximately 2,200 miles.
Historically, Rupert Murdoch and his media corporation have maintained cordial relations with Republican leaders, having a particularly favorable rapport with Trump. Murdoch had attended Trump’s inauguration, and the two have been seen together in the Oval Office this year. Rupert Murdoch, aged 94, had stepped down from his leadership role at Fox News and News Corp. earlier in 2023, passing the reins to his son Lachlan.
Montana state Auditor James Brown mentioned on the Montana Talks radio show that he aided Vance’s team in orchestrating this impromptu visit. Brown, however, did not respond to follow-up questions later. He stated that he greeted Vice President Vance upon his landing and helped facilitate the vice president’s entourage by assisting in transporting second lady Usha Vance’s staff.