'Never Vance' Movement

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Allies shrug off online campaign as politically motivated ahead of 2028 race
By John Johnson withNewser.AI
Posted Jul 24, 2026 9:30 AM CDT
Vance Faces 'Never Vance' Movement Within GOP
Vice President JD Vance arrives to speak at the Wisconsin Air National Guard facility at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)
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JD Vance isn't on the 2028 ballot yet, but critics within his own party are already acting like he is. The Washington Post reports that the vice president is the target of a sustained online campaign from conservatives rallying under a "Never Vance" banner. They accuse Vance—without evidence—of freelancing Trump-era foreign policy and of making moves not supported by President Trump himself. In particular, they're going after his efforts to negotiate with Iran and also portraying him as anti-Israel. Criticism spiked after Vance's recent appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast, when he described himself as a "reasonable moderate" on Israel, adding, "I represent Americans first, and that's the way that I've tried to do this job." He said his critics could "go to hell."

Vance's allies insist the pile-on is orchestrated, not grassroots, and say it hasn't dented his GOP standing, which polling shows roughly matching Trump's. "Loud Washington establishment voices form an online cacophony, but they do not remotely represent the consensus views of Republican voters," says conservative commentator and Vance backer Steve Cortes. The story notes that such intense criticism of a sitting vice president is unusual—Mike Pence might relate, but the animosity toward him happened only at the very end of Trump's first term. Read the full story, which notes that Vance's allies suggest the criticism might actually help his 2028 prospects.