The Penny Finally Drops

J.D. is really working hard to get that sweet sweet Putin love https://t.co/jPmp70gXIY

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) August 24, 2025

Vance hasn’t suddenly lost his mind. And he isn’t metaphorically blowing Putin; not even kisses.

He’s pushing Trump’s fantasy about a Nobel Peace Prize.

Trump thinks he’s settled 10 wars because conflicts have halted during his second term. He thinks because he’s supported Netanyahu’s destruction of Gaza, and someone (maybe just Trump in his own mind) called Bibi a “war hero” (I can’t find any reports that anyone said that about Bibi, except Trump, when he said that made him one, too), that makes him a “war hero.” So he thinks if he’s even in office and the Ukraine invasion is settled, he deserves the credit, and the reward (a Peace Prize). It’s the way all wars end, isn’t it?

Vance is just singing the tune Trump wants to hear. Vance knows it’s bullshit. He doesn’t care.

The crazy thing is, Trump can’t fire him. Vance could just go on taxpayer funded vacations for the next four years, while idly working with the Cabinet to 25th Trump. It wouldn’t be permanent, but Trump couldn’t fire his Cabinet until Trump wrested back power, and the fight between them would be entertaining, as well as less damaging to the rest of us. Ultimately that would end in a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress, but after the midterms, the GOP minority (we live in hope) might be through with Trump’s madness, and be happy to toss out the MAGA baby with the Trump bath water 

All idle speculation, and I’m getting far ahead of the facts, which remain as this: Vance isn’t sucking up to Putin, he’s between vacations and just sending a singing telegram to the man who could cut his travel fund.

Or sure try to.

It’s a small price to pay for not having to work the rest of the time.