Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro took aim at Vice President JD Vance on Thursday, claiming that the vice president's recent appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast made him sound indistinguishable from a Democrat.
Shapiro posted on X that listening to Vance on Rogan was like hearing a mashup of progressive talking points. “I tuned into Joe Rogan yesterday and heard Bernie Sanders’ economics, Barack Obama’s foreign policy, and Ro Khanna’s conspiracy theories. And then I realized JD Vance was talking,” Shapiro wrote. He added that he wants a 2028 candidate who “doesn’t mirror the Democrats — and who can win.”
The criticism came after Vance sat down with Rogan for a nearly three-hour conversation on Wednesday, his second appearance on the popular podcast. The vice president last appeared on the show just before the 2024 presidential election.
During the wide-ranging interview, Vance discussed topics including the Epstein files, U.S.-Iran tensions, and controversial comments from a UFC fighter about former first lady Michelle Obama. In one notable exchange, Vance accused Israeli officials of manipulating American public opinion to prolong the war with Iran, saying, “There are some people within their system, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt, who are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely.”
Shapiro’s rebuke underscores a growing unease among some conservatives about Vance’s positioning as a potential 2028 GOP front-runner. Vance is widely seen as a top contender for the Republican nomination, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Former President Donald Trump has praised both men, suggesting they could run together on a joint ticket.
“I like them both,” Trump said in a recent podcast, “and I like them together.”
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment on Shapiro’s remarks. For more on Vance's comments about Israel and Iran, see our coverage of Vance accusing Israeli officials of orchestrating a campaign against the Iran deal.
Shapiro’s critique highlights the ideological tensions within the GOP as the party looks ahead to 2028. While Vance has tried to position himself as a standard-bearer for the Trump-aligned populist wing, his willingness to adopt positions often associated with the left—such as skepticism of foreign intervention and criticism of establishment economics—has drawn fire from traditional conservatives.
In his post, Shapiro concluded with a direct warning: “Mr. VP, this is not the way.”
