Washington Post columnist and prominent neoconservative Marc Thiessen is under fire for accusing Vice President J.D. Vance of a “stunning act of disloyalty” after Vance cited the unpopular Iran war as a key factor in Republican midterm losses. The Federalist reported that Thiessen’s critique ignored Trump’s own agreement with Vance’s assessment.
Thiessen’s ‘Disloyalty’ Claim Debunked
In his column, Thiessen claimed Vance was “publicly distancing himself” from Trump by tweeting that the GOP’s electoral wipeout stemmed from voter backlash against the Iran conflict. But Trump himself later called Vance’s statement “largely true,” undermining Thiessen’s argument. Vance had cited internal GOP data showing the war’s political toxicity, particularly due to spiking gas prices.
Neocon Playbook on Full Display
The Federalist noted Thiessen’s reaction followed a familiar neoconservative pattern—attacking critics who acknowledge policy failures while praising those who defend unpopular decisions. The columnist, who reportedly advised Trump on the Iran strike, previously argued there’d be “no downside” to military action. After Republicans lost the House, Senate, and multiple governorships, Vance’s tweet framed the losses as predictable consequences.
Thiessen’s Imagined Alternate Reality
The piece highlighted Thiessen’s bizarre suggestion that Vance should have instead claimed Trump’s strike was “the most courageous decision any president has made in my lifetime.” The Federalist dismissed this as fantasy, noting Thiessen’s history of downplaying the war’s political costs while attacking realists like Vance who acknowledge them.
Source: thefederalist.com — https://thefederalist.com/2026/11/06/neocon-marc-thiessen-denies-reality-and-lies-about-j-d-vance/