JD Vance and the toxic traits of the online right

my take on Trump's running mate

A few journalists have asked what I think of JD Vance since we both have ties to Peter Thiel. I’ve stayed quiet to date because I don’t know him personally and didn’t want to trip any wires in my social circles. But now that Vance is campaigning in a heated election and I’ve already come out of the coconut closet, it seems reasonable to express what I think. My intent is to be honest, not harsh.

When I think about JD Vance, two questions pop up: Does he know who he is? And why is debasing himself? More than anything, I am struck by the way he mirrors toxic traits of the online right, including traits I once supported.

I’ve only met JD Vance once. It was at a gathering at the Trump Hotel in Washington DC, in May 2019. The event was hosted by Teneo, a group of under-40 Ivy League-type conservatives, and I attended as a guest. Vance and I briefly shook hands during the cocktail hour, but that was the extent of our interaction. He came across as understated and unremarkable — not impressive, but not disappointing either.

At the time, I was still part of the Trump movement but starting to drift away, ultimately breaking from it after the 2020 election. JD was on the opposite path. He had been a Never Trumper but was embracing Trumpism. We were like ships passing in the night, politically speaking.

Let’s start with the good: JD is smart. His personal story is compelling. His physical makeover is Queer Eye-approved, apart from that eyeliner. He seems to have a lovely family and a powerful partner in Usha. Also, it’s refreshing to see Millennials entering the Senate. We need generational turnover.

But I don’t think JD knows himself. And on some level, this is understandable. Processing a chaotic childhood takes time. Bridging social classes and worlds is exhausting. JD, who just turned 40, hasn’t gone through a midlife crisis yet. (I am projecting a bit here). The result is a chameleon-like quality that muddies his essence. It isn’t clear what he stands for or who he is. He was supposed to represent working-class Middle Americans and Millennials, but he dresses like a coastal boomer New Yorker in his Brioni suits. Compare this to Harris’s running mate Tim Walz who, though goofy, seems more authentically masculine, Middle American, and comfortable in his skin.

JD’s chameleon nature is reflected in his multiple names.¹ He converted to Catholicism in 2019, around the time I met him. By most accounts, he is highly ambitious and willing to do anything to advance himself. When I look at him, I think: This guy could really use a week at the Hoffman Institute, a therapy bootcamp I once attended. (again, projecting)

I don’t get the sense JD is a bad person at heart. But I do believe he — like much of the online right — is debasing himself by doubling down on lies and tethering himself to a cult-of-personality figure who crossed Constitutional red lines and is more focused on feeding his narcissism than serving the country. As someone who’s made my own mistakes and misjudgments, I sympathize. But JD is doing it while running for presidential office.

For almost a decade now, the ethos in rightwing circles, especially among men, has been to be “based” and never give an inch to the left. Initially, this was a response to the perception that the GOP establishment had no backbone. That’s where the term “cuck” came from, mocking those who constantly caved. No one wanted to be like Jeb Bush.

Today, we see the toxic nature of this quality in JD. By promoting lies about cat-eating Haitians and then doubling down, JD feeds the worst traits of Trumpism — stupid, conspiratorial thinking unmoored from facts — while shutting the door to serious discussion about immigration issues. In trying not to be a cuck, JD has become a crackpot. Such is the story of much of the online right.

Some online rightists defend the cat lies, arguing they’ve brought attention to Springfield and immigration. But this “4D chess” mindset is morally bankrupt and leads to real-world harms. It’s the same with lies about the 2020 election. Trump claims the election was stolen, without proof, and JD backs him. Together, they lead their followers off a cliff and take the country with it, just as Trump led people into jail after January 6.

The online right often filters cultural issues through certain lenses — gender, sex, race, and family. These are legitimate topics, and the right has made useful contributions, highlighting issues such as male malaise, housing affordability, and the impact of feminism. But seeing the world only through these filters becomes toxic in the same way excessive “wokeism” does. JD’s “childless cat ladies” comment was a prime example. How dumb can you be in an election where the Democrats are running on abortion and women’s rights? That type of remark needlessly alienates people, especially those struggling with infertility or who choose not to have children. JD leaned into a talking point from the online right and it blew up in his face.

If Trump wins this election, JD’s star will rise and the online right will have no reason for introspection. If Trump loses, JD will either fade into obscurity or compete with the likes of Niki Haley to lead the GOP’s future. The online right will likely splinter, and some factions will realize the need to self-correct.

It’s clear by now that candidates tied to the online right don’t automatically translate to the electorate. Some polls suggest JD Vance is the least popular Vice President candidate in U.S. history. Yes, worse than Sarah Palin.² Let that sink in.

Personally, I hope Trump loses the election and JD recognizes his errors and becomes a better man. If I can snap out of my toxic Trumpist stupor, others can too. The first step is to stop cucking for Trump.

1. see AP article

2. see Independent article