It would be very difficult to have a worse weekend than JD Vance just did, outside of losing a loved one, getting in a serious car accident, or losing all of your money.
America’s Least Favorite Hillbilly and so-called Vice President of These Here U-nited States has had quite a rough one over the last few days. He flopped as a diplomatic negotiator as his attempt at peace talks with Iran failed miserably, his campaigning for MAGA Europe CEO Viktor Orbán resulted in poor Viktor’s crushing defeat in Sunday’s Hungary elections, and his project to be America’s number one Catholic is being completely derailed by his boss.
I will be the first one to point out that in this kind of negotiation, you don’t expect all the results in one day, but there should at least be some hope of a future deal. JD is not getting anything close to that. In response, Trump is going to do a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which, like everything else he’s been doing with Iran, feels very spur-of-the-moment. In any event, we can go back to our regularly scheduled shitshow of bombs and rising prices.
This probably is a huge disappointment to the icons of mainstream media like the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, etc., who all seemed to be wishing for this to be JD’s Big Moment and propulsion to the front-runner for the GOP in 2028.
JD Vance PR team really getting their moneys worth from American papers. Blatant propaganda.
— Oliver Willis (@owillis.bsky.social) 2026-04-11T11:34:46.532Z
his what
— Comfortably Numb (@numb.comfortab.ly) 2026-04-10T11:56:53.823Z
I imagine JD had similar ideas bouncing around in his head, but really, most people can barely stand watching five minutes of him on TV, much less in person. I also heard a few rumblings that the Iranians were hoping that JD’s sort of kind of semi-anti-ish-war babblings meant he might be someone they could work with, but I imagine they quickly realized he has no principles other than JD’s quest for power.
I guess to be fair to poor JD, he wasn’t getting a whole lot of support for this very important moment in American history.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio at UFC in Miami tonight as diplomatic negotiations with Iran fail(Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AFP via Getty)
Moving on, JD put a lot of work into getting MAGA Europe’s CEO Viktor Orbán reelected.
JD Vance: "Will you stand against the bureaucrats in Brussels? Will you stand for western civilization? Will you stand for freedom, truth, and the God of our fathers? Then, my friends, go to the polls and stand for Viktor Orban!"
Sending JD to campaign for CPAC’s favorite European and then having him faceplant spectacularly yesterday was truly something to behold. He lost so badly that he didn’t even put in the effort to try to steal the election. The rally itself was embarrassing for our man in Istanbul.
Even Trump ghosted him.
— Comfortably Numb (@numb.comfortab.ly) 2026-04-10T12:52:32.155Z
I think there is a lot for Americans to hold on to here for hope moving forward. It should be mentioned that the new Hungarian president is not really a liberal, as Péter Magyar is more center-right. There really isn’t a left option in Hungary anymore, as Orbán basically eliminated it. And what remained of a progressive movement in Hungary stood down to avoid splitting the anti-fascist vote.
Viktor Orbán’s defeat would mark a major victory for democratic values at a time when they have been under pressure worldwide. His government has often been cited as a leading example of democratic backsliding, weakening judicial independence, restricting press freedom, and concentrating power. Losing power through an election would send a clear message that even entrenched leaders who tilt the system in their favor can still be held accountable by voters. For democracies globally, it would reinforce the idea that institutions can recover and that civic participation still matters.
Beyond Hungary, the ripple effects could be significant. Orbán has been a central figure in legitimizing illiberal politics across Europe and beyond, so his defeat would undermine that ideological momentum. It could strengthen the European Union’s stance on the rule of law and embolden pro-democracy movements in other countries facing similar challenges. In a broader sense, it would serve as a reminder that authoritarian-leaning leadership is not inevitable and that democratic norms, when defended, can still prevail.
So anyway, thanks, JD.
In closing, let me touch briefly on the Pope matter. Trump taking a swing at the Pope via Lies Social this weekend, and Pope Leo saying whatevs dude, puts JD Vance in a particularly awkward spot, given how much he has leaned into his Catholic identity in recent years. It is not exactly ideal when the political figure you are tied to starts lobbing attacks at the spiritual leader of your own church. Vance has tried to position himself as a thoughtful, values-driven conservative, but moments like this make that balancing act look more like a contortion routine.
It also highlights a broader problem for him. Vance often presents himself as part of a more serious, intellectually grounded wing of the movement, yet he remains closely aligned with a figure who thrives on blunt, headline-grabbing provocations. When that provocation targets the Pope, it leaves Vance looking less like a principled voice and more like someone quietly hoping no one asks him to comment. Not exactly the image of conviction he tends to advertise.
All in all, not a great weekend for JD. Might be time for a Hillbilly Elegy for his presidential aspirations.
The last word goes to Kacy Musgraves.