The Atlantic republished an essay by JD Vance on July 5, 2026, originally published 10 years earlier during Donald Trump’s first successful presidential campaign. In the essay, Vance described Trump as “cultural heroin,” characterizing his political appeal as a temporary pain reliever amid a social crisis marked by growing distrust in government and economic decline.

At the time of the original publication, Vance worked at Mithril Capital Management, a venture capital firm led by Peter Thiel, and had recently released his bestselling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which reflected on his Rust Belt upbringing and the struggles of the white working class.

The Atlantic’s editor’s note explained that the essay was republished on its 10th anniversary and the United States’ semiquincentennial to allow readers to judge how well Vance’s assessment of Trump has held up over time.

Vance had initially criticized Trump for lacking concrete plans and predicted that his supporters would eventually realize he was not the solution to their problems. The note suggests that this moment may have arrived, citing Trump’s historically low approval ratings amid controversial policies such as a mass deportation campaign, failure to reduce prices, and involvement in a war in Iran despite prior promises to avoid new conflicts.

Since then, Vance’s political stance has shifted significantly. He became Trump’s running mate in the successful 2024 White House campaign, citing a change of heart after witnessing the outcomes of Trump’s policies before Trump’s first presidency ended in defeat to Joe Biden.

Sources