Overview
- Speaking at a Breitbart-hosted discussion in Washington, Vice President JD Vance said Trump has forged a new working-class coalition with preferences distinct from the Reagan and Bush eras.
- He argued Republicans must give these voters something to believe in when Trump is not running, pointing to this month’s gubernatorial defeats in New Jersey and Virginia.
- Vance warned that efforts to wrest control of the party from that coalition or to revert to pre-Trump orthodoxy would be a mistake.
- Looking to the 2026 midterms, he urged the party to lean into serving this bloc to bolster turnout, noting headwinds reflected in public polling such as The Economist’s 40% Trump approval rating.
- He encouraged open internal debates but said the Left remains the primary opponent, referencing the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk to underscore his call for unity.