The Atlantic republishes a July 4, 2016 op-ed by then-Republican presidential candidate JD Vance, marking its 10th anniversary during the Fourth of July holiday. The original essay, titled “Opioid of the Masses,” was published days after Vance released his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” In the op-ed, Vance sharply criticized Donald Trump’s promises, using opioid-related language and comparing Trump’s political pitch to a “needle” that offers an “easy escape” from public pain. The piece argues that Trump does not provide details for how his plans would work, and Vance writes that Trump’s promises are “the needle in America’s collective vein.”
In an editor’s note, The Atlantic says readers can judge whether Vance’s assessment of the man he now serves with as vice president has held up over time. The republishing comes as Vance is no longer making the same criticism; multiple outlets note he later said his view changed after Trump became president, including comments made in 2024.
