The Atlantic republishes JD Vance’s anti-Trump essay from 10 years ago | JD Vance
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-07-05 12:34:00 — www.theguardian.com
Trump’s “Golden Age” Claims Contradicted by Record of Broken Promises and Controversial Policies
On the 250th anniversary of the United States’ declaration of independence, Donald Trump declared the nation was experiencing a “golden age.” This optimistic assessment came just one day after he attacked what he described as a growing “communist menace” in America, as democratic socialist movements gained traction in the polls ahead of the midterm elections.
However, Trump’s self-congratulatory rhetoric stands in stark contrast to his record, as highlighted by a recently republished essay by JD Vance in The Atlantic. Vance, now Trump’s vice president, originally described Trump as “cultural heroin” during the 2016 campaign, arguing that Trump offered “an easy escape from the pain” of economic and social decline, promising simple solutions to complex problems without providing details for how those plans would work.
Fact-Checking Trump’s Promises
Vance’s critique—that Trump “never offers details for how these plans will work, because he can’t”—remains relevant as Trump’s approval ratings have plummeted amid several high-profile policy failures. Among the most notable:
- Mass Deportation Campaign: Trump’s mass deportation policies have proven deeply unpopular, contributing to his low approval ratings.
- Failure to Reduce Prices: Despite promises to lower costs for Americans, Trump has failed to deliver on this pledge, with economic pressures persisting for many families.
- Foreign Policy Contradictions: Trump pledged to avoid new wars, yet he played a role in launching war in Iran alongside Israel, contradicting his earlier commitments.
A Pattern of Exaggeration and Attacks
Trump’s tendency to exaggerate and attack political opponents was again on display as he warned of a “communist menace” in the U.S., a claim not substantiated by the facts but designed to stoke fear and rally his base. This pattern of offering simplistic solutions and scapegoating adversaries has been a hallmark of Trump’s political style, as Vance observed a decade ago.
Conclusion
As The Atlantic’s republication of Vance’s essay invites readers to judge how well his assessment of Trump has stood the test of time, the evidence suggests that Trump’s record is marked by broken promises, policy failures, and a reliance on divisive rhetoric. Despite his claims of a “golden age,” the reality for many Americans has not matched the president’s optimistic declarations.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/05/atlantic-republishes-jd-vance-trump-essay