The Atlantic republishes JD Vance’s Trump op-ed from 2016

Media The Atlantic republishes JD Vance’s Trump op-ed from 2016 by Finya Swai - 07/04/26 6:01 PM ET Link copied by Finya Swai - 07/04/26 6:01 PM ET Link copied

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The Atlantic on Saturday republished Vice President Vance’s essay, originally published exactly 10 years ago on July 4, reviving some of the more biting comments Vance made about President Trump prior to becoming his second vice president.

The original article ran days after Vance published his bestselling memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.”

In an editor’s note, the magazine said it was republishing the story “on the occasion of its tenth anniversary, so that our readers can judge for themselves how well his assessment of the man he now serves as vice president has stood the test of time.”

The original essay was written during Trump’s first presidential campaign while Vance worked at Peter Thiel’s venture capital firm, Mithril Capital Management.

Vance argued that many Americans turned to Trump as a “pain reliever” following mounting distrust in the government and economic decline. He called Trump’s political appeal at the time, “cultural heroin,” and predicted that supporters would eventually realize he was not necessarily the answer to their problems.

“Trump is cultural heroin,” he wrote. “He makes some feel better for a bit. But he cannot fix what ails them, and one day they’ll realize it.”

Vance is widely considered to be the successor to Trump’s MAGA movement after he leaves office and is favored to become the Republican nominee in the 2028 presidential race.

Vance’s evolution from a self-described “Never Trump” guy to Trump’s running mate has long been a topic of scrutiny for both critics and supporters.

During his successful Senate campaign in Ohio as well as his subsequent entrance into Trump’s orbit, Vance has acknowledged his earlier opposition and said his views changed after witnessing the president’s actions while in office.

The Hill reached out to the White House for comment.

The republication of the July 4, 2016, story on Saturday came as the country celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and America’s founding.

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