The Atlantic republished JD Vance’s July 4, 2016 op-ed "Opioid of the Masses" on its tenth anniversary, reminding readers of his sharp critique that likened Donald Trump’s appeal to a form of opioid-like escape. An editor’s note said the republication would let readers judge how well Vance’s assessment has aged. The piece linked Vance’s critique to themes in his memoir Hillbilly Elegy and has prompted renewed discussion about his later political alignment and how early warnings about charismatic politics should be judged in hindsight.
The Atlantic Republishes JD Vance’s 2016 Op-Ed "Opioid of the Masses" — A 10-Year Reckoning
The Atlantic republished a 2016 op-ed from now-Vice President JD Vance in which he referred to the promises of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump as a "needle in America’s collective vein."AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
On the Fourth of July, The Atlantic republished JD Vance’s July 4, 2016 op-ed, "Opioid of the Masses", to mark its tenth anniversary and invite readers to reassess a sharp critique of Donald Trump that compared Trump’s political appeal to a druglike escape.
Why It Matters
An editor’s note accompanying the republication explained the timing: "We are republishing it on the occasion of its tenth anniversary, so that our readers can judge for themselves how well his assessment of the man has stood the test of time." The piece originally appeared soon after Vance’s memoir Hillbilly Elegy, which examined, among other topics, the opioid crisis in parts of rural America.
Key Argument
"He never offers details for how these plans will work, because he can’t. Trump’s promises are the needle in America’s collective vein."
In the essay, Vance argued that Trump’s rhetoric offered an "easy escape" from social and economic pain, a psychological relief that "enters minds, not through lungs or veins, but through eyes and ears." The op-ed used the opioid metaphor to suggest that the candidate’s appeal substituted spectacle and simple cures for concrete policy solutions.
What Has Changed Since 2016
Since writing the op-ed, Vance has become a prominent national political figure. He later served in elected office and aligned politically with Donald Trump, and in subsequent interviews he has said his views about Trump evolved. The Atlantic’s republication prompts readers to weigh the original warnings about charismatic, substance-light politics against Vance’s later trajectory and the broader political shifts that followed.
Public Reaction and Coverage
The republication has drawn renewed attention from national outlets and commentators, who note the contrast between Vance’s forceful 2016 denunciation and his later political alignment. Readers can consult the original 2016 column via the link The Atlantic provided when republishing the piece.
Bottom line: The Atlantic’s decision to republish the essay encourages reflection on whether early warnings about a political movement’s seductive simplicity have proven prescient — and what it means when critics later become allies.
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