Vice President J.D. Vance’s allies believe he is facing a coordinated campaign from within the Republican Party aimed at damaging his political standing well ahead of the 2028 presidential race, according to a new report.
Coordinated effort against J.D. Vance
The Washington Post reported that Vance has become the target of an unusually intense wave of criticism from fellow Republicans across social media in recent weeks. The backlash intensified after he appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast, on which he criticized aspects of the U.S.-Israel relationship and described himself as a “moderate.”
According to the report, Vance is “facing a barrage of online attacks from within his party, criticism his allies say appears to be part of a coordinated attempt to poison the well for him politically.”
The criticism has included “Never Vance” slogans, attacks over Iran negotiations and comparisons to Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont. The report noted that, despite the online hostility, Vance’s standing among Republican voters has remained relatively stable and continues to track closely with President Donald Trump’s approval numbers.
Weakening J.D. Vance’s prospects
The Washington Post reporter Natalie Allison wrote that the sustained criticism is unusual both for its intensity and its timing, coming two years before Republicans are expected to choose their next presidential nominee. She said the phenomenon reflects social media’s growing role in political battles and the high stakes surrounding the party’s post-Trump future.
Several of the vice president’s allies argued the campaign is being orchestrated to weaken his prospects and clear a path for a more establishment-friendly Republican candidate.
One close ally claimed it’s “obvious to anyone with an IQ above 70” that the social media attacks are “totally inauthentic and probably coordinated to a certain extent,” pointing to Vance’s steady approval ratings despite the surge in online criticism.
The report also said some social media accounts promoting Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the party’s 2028 nominee appeared to be based outside the United States rather than belonging to American voters.
J.D. Vance acknowledges effort against him
During his interview with Rogan, Vance acknowledged what he described as an online campaign against him, arguing it was intended to undermine U.S. negotiations with Iran. He cited a Time report about Brad Parscale’s company, Clock Tower X, being paid by Israel to conduct an online influence campaign.
“I definitely think you have seen this very discreet, extremely well-funded campaign to try to derail the negotiation and try to derail the deal,” Vance said at the time.