‘We Cannot Be Afraid To Do Something Because the Left Might Do It in the Future’

“We cannot be afraid to do something because the left might do it in the future.”
—J.D. Vance

Asked by a college student if Republicans ought to be more cautious about “abusing that power” when they control the federal government, Vice President J.D. Vance left no doubt that he’s unworried.

“The left is already going to do it, regardless of whether we do it,” he added.

You’ll have a hard time finding a more concise formulation of the will-to-power sentiment that has seized so much of the conservative movement in recent years. And this was no gaffe—Vance has said similar things on several occasions, and he posted a video of this comment to his official X account.

The full context of the moment is worth appreciating. At a Turning Point USA event in October 2025 at the University of Mississippi, Vance took a question from a student who expressed concern about an unfriendly administration potentially targeting conservatives who might protest against it. “How can we prevent someone from abusing that power?” the student asked.

Vance’s chilling response waves away those worries. Rather than asking conservatives to reflect on the proper limits of political power or the potential consequences of overreaching, the vice president is effectively granting permission for greater intrusions against Americans’ rights and liberties.