Why a JD Vance presidency could be worse than Trump

There is a growing argument that a JD Vance presidency might actually be more dangerous than Donald Trump’s. Trump’s chaos often undermines his own agenda. He blurts out illegal schemes, fires off executive orders that collapse in court, and throws tantrums loud enough to activate institutional pushback. Vance, on the other hand, is shaping up to be the opposite: disciplined, aligned with the donor class, and openly dismissive of the rule of law. That combination can be more effective, and therefore more damaging, than Trump’s flailing improvisation.

The incident that made it clear

On September 2, 2025, the U.S. military conducted an airstrike on a speedboat off the coast of Venezuela. The boat was allegedly operated by members of Tren de Aragua, which the U.S. had designated as a terrorist organization. The strike killed 11 people aboard the vessel.

President Trump released drone footage of the explosion, framing it as a firm response to narco-terrorism. Critics raised urgent concerns: the strike occurred in international waters, lacked due process, and potentially violated international and constitutional law. Legal experts, lawmakers, and human rights groups questioned both the legality and transparency of the operation.

This week Vance tweeted that “killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military.”

When political commentator Brian Krassenstein pointed out that killing civilians in another country without due process is considered a war crime, Vance replied: “I don’t give a shit what you call it.”

This wasn’t an off-the-cuff slip. It was a deliberate statement that legal guardrails don’t matter. For someone already in high office, that’s not just rhetoric. It’s a worldview.

Even Rand Paul, who is hardly a paragon of democratic values, criticized Vance pointing out the absurdity of celebrating executions without trial.

When Rand Paul becomes the voice of legal restraint in the room, you know something has gone very wrong.

Why Vance could be worse

The lesson isn’t just that Vance swears online. It’s that his reaction reveals the qualities that could make him more dangerous than Trump.

• Fewer unforced errors. Trump’s volatility often trips him up. Vance is more likely to push the same agenda with fewer distractions, making it harder for institutions to intervene.

• Loyal executor. Trump wants attention. Vance wants to implement. That makes him more useful to the Republican donor class and party operatives, who don’t need drama — they need policy carried out.

• Open disdain for constraints. Trump sometimes pretends laws are on his side. Vance just says the laws don’t matter. That signals a willingness to cross boundaries quietly and systematically.

• Authoritarian efficiency. Theatrics can slow authoritarian projects because they attract scrutiny. Strip away the theatrics, and you get efficiency in dismantling norms and institutions.

The bigger picture

The question is not whether a Vance presidency would look calmer than Trump’s. It probably would. The question is whether it would be more effective at turning authoritarian instincts into actual policy. When the vice president of the United States publicly declares he does not care about international law, due process, or constitutional guardrails, we should take him at his word.

Trump may be the chaos candidate. Vance may be the execution candidate. And in a democracy, execution without scrutiny is the greater danger.

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