On October 18, 2024, an article was published in the Politics section of The Nation discussing the influence of Donald Trump’s ideas on the Republican Party and the role of JD Vance, the GOP vice-presidential nominee, in promoting these narratives.
JD Vance is identified as an awkward successor to Donald Trump, known for his longstanding inclination towards deception. The article illustrates a distinction between Trump and Vance using philosopher Harry G. Frankfurter’s concept distinguishing a liar from a "bullshitter." Trump is depicted as someone who is indifferent to truth and speaks to suit his immediate need, whereas Vance is portrayed as someone who spreads falsehoods but rationalizes them post facto, revealing a conscious awareness of their inaccuracy.
The narrative highlights how conspiracy theories are central to Trump’s political identity, having roots in his early business experiences where he felt marginalized by the Manhattan elite. Trump’s political rise is noted for embracing controversial theories such as birtherism and election fraud claims linked to the 2020 presidential election. Vance, however, stemmed from a working-class background and initially aspired to be part of the elite, joining them in distancing from conspiracy theories before aligning with Trump’s ideology.
The article cites NPR, noting that JD Vance had previously dismissed conspiracy theories but has embraced them since becoming a significant figure in Republican politics. Vance has made statements accusing the federal government of targeting conservative voters with fentanyl and has praised controversial figures like Alex Jones. He has also supported the unfounded assertion that the 2020 election was stolen and referred to those charged in the Capitol insurrection as "political prisoners."
Vance is described as a possibly sincere proponent of the Great Replacement theory, suggesting that elites are intentionally trying to replace the white population with non-white immigrants.
NPR characterizes Vance as having transitioned from an "intellectual" to a "conspiracy theorist," a description that the article argues does not fully capture Vance’s position. Vance reportedly uses his scholarly abilities to weave conspiracy theories into a narrative that unites various factions under the MAGA coalition, as observed by journalist Lindsay Beyerstein. This effort aims to bridge traditional Republicans with those embracing extreme views, including conspiracy theorists.
A 2021 speech by Vance is noted in which he argued that belief in absurd ideas should not automatically exclude people from political circles. He acknowledged that everyone has their eccentric beliefs, signaling openness to conspiracy theorists if they align with his broader political goals.
The article points out that while conspiracy theories are not exclusive to the right, with some left-wing examples noted, the GOP, exemplified by figures like Vance, has prominently featured conspiratorial thinking. It suggests that the rise of Vance highlights how such thinking has become central to Republican ideology, tracing its lineage from historical figures like Joseph McCarthy through to Trump and Vance.
Ultimately, the article concludes that Vance’s embrace of conspiracism, despite being politically advantageous, signals a sustained shift towards conspiracy-driven narratives within the Republican Party.
