The Atlantic Reissues Vice President Vance’s 2016 “Never Trump” Essay on Its 10-Year Anniversary

The Atlantic republished Vice President Vance’s essay, originally published on July 4, 2016, to mark its ten-year anniversary. The magazine’s editor’s note frames the reissue as a chance for readers to judge whether Vance’s early assessment of Donald Trump still holds, given Vance now serves as the president’s vice president.

The Hill

Vance drafted the essay while at Peter Thiel’s Mithril Capital Management, shortly after his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” topped bestseller lists. Written during Trump’s first campaign, it described the candidate’s appeal as a temporary “cultural heroin” that could not solve deeper economic and governmental distrust.

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• Vance – Vice President, former venture-capital analyst, author of “Hillbilly Elegy.”

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• Donald Trump – Former president, subject of the 2016 critique.

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• Peter Thiel – Founder of Mithril Capital, Vance’s employer.

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• The Atlantic – Publisher of the original and reissued essay.

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• The White House – Contacted for comment; no response given.

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• July 4, 2016 – Original essay appears in The Atlantic.

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• 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence – Vance serving as vice president; essay reissued.

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• 2028 – Vance cited as a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination.

The Hill

The reissue lets observers compare Vance’s early warning about Trump’s “cultural heroin” appeal with his later decision to join the administration. His shift from a self-described “Never Trump” commentator to vice president positions him as a potential heir to the MAGA movement, shaping expectations for the 2028 Republican primary.

The Hill

The Atlantic’s editor’s note said the reissue aims to let readers judge whether Vance’s assessment of the president remains accurate. The Hill reported that the White House was asked for comment; no official reply was given.

The Hill

Commentators have examined Vance’s move from “Never Trump” commentator to Trump’s running mate. Critics label the shift as opportunistic; supporters argue it reflects a pragmatic reassessment after observing presidential actions. The reissued essay has revived this debate.

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• “Trump is cultural heroin,” — Vance

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• “He makes some feel better for a bit. But he cannot fix what ails them, and one day they’ll realize it.” — Vance

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• “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 Atlantic

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The main gap is the lack of an official White House comment on the reissue. No other media assessments of Vance’s essay appear in the source material.

The Hill