JD Vance’s Navy SEAL appearance prompts criticism amid shifting GOP polls

Vice President JD Vance drew criticism this week after publicly boasting about completing a 90-minute training session with Navy SEALs, an episode that sparked ridicule online and prompted sharp commentary from political observers.

In an op-ed published Tuesday in The New Republic, journalist Edith Olmsted characterized Vance’s appearance with the elite military unit as performative, describing it as a “cosplaying adventure.” Olmsted questioned the timing of the high-profile display, suggesting it may have been motivated by recent political pressures, including shifting poll numbers and the vice president’s efforts to consolidate support within conservative circles.

Shortly after completing the training session at Naval Base Coronado in California, Vance posted on social media that he planned to share photos from the experience. Online reaction to the announcement was swift, with critics mocking the spectacle. Vance later followed through, posting several images showing him jogging, carrying a heavy log, and climbing an obstacle-course cargo net alongside service members.

The following day, Vance appeared to lean into the criticism by reposting one of the photos — this time edited to replace his face with a viral meme version of himself — and captioned it simply, “Fixed it.”

Despite the self-deprecating gesture, Olmsted argued that the display was unlikely to achieve what she suggested was Vance’s broader objective: appealing to online hyper-masculine political subcultures sometimes referred to as the “manosphere.”

“No, JD Vance will not be our first ‘Chad’ president,” Olmsted wrote.

The episode comes as Vance remains a leading contender among potential Republican presidential hopefuls for 2028. However, recent polling suggests his support may be softening. A survey conducted by AtlasIntel found that fewer than 47% of Republican voters currently list Vance as their top choice, down from 54.6% in September.