Vance’s “Nerd” Image is PURE DECEPTION!

Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio, once heralded as a fresh face in the Republican Party, has become an unlikely poster child for the Democratic critique. Labeled as “weird” by his critics, Vance’s stiff public persona and divisive policy positions have drawn the attention of those on the left. But beyond his political demeanor lies another defining characteristic that has also been thrust into the spotlight: Vance is, undeniably, a nerd. His affinity for fantasy literature, particularly “The Lord of the Rings,” and his past involvement with the card game “Magic: The Gathering” have been widely discussed. These interests, however, have been used to paint a more complex, if not contradictory, portrait of the senator.

It’s important to clarify that being a “nerd” and being “weird” are not one and the same. As someone who embraces the nerd identity myself, I must point out that Vance’s geeky pursuits are not what makes him odd or unsettling. Instead, it’s the way he embodies the more toxic aspects of nerd culture that are at odds with the inclusive spirit of the broader community. Vance’s rejection of progressive values, which he dismisses as “woke,” ultimately alienates him from a nerd culture that has increasingly embraced diversity and what many call the “good weird.”

One of the more peculiar aspects of Vance’s nerdy past is his connection to “Magic: The Gathering” (MTG). Earlier this week, his wife, Usha Vance, appeared on “Fox & Friends,” attempting to soften her husband’s image following his controversial “childless cat ladies” remarks. During the interview, she shared that Vance had various “dorky interests,” including the popular collectible card game. Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt mentioned that many people their age could relate to such hobbies, trying to make Vance seem more relatable.

However, when pressed by Semafor about his connection to MTG, Vance downplayed it as a “phase.” His rationale for giving up the game, though, is revealing. He remarked, “The big problem with transitioning from being a 13-year-old who likes Magic: The Gathering to being a 15-year-old who likes Magic: The Gathering is that 15-year-old girls do not like Magic: The Gathering. So I dropped it like a bad habit.”

Vance’s comment, likely intended as a joke, actually highlights a much deeper issue within nerd culture: gatekeeping. It’s true that in the 1990s, when Vance would have been playing MTG, the game wasn’t widely embraced by young women. Even as recently as 2015, only about 38% of MTG players were female, according to one of the game’s designers. But much of this disparity was likely fueled by the exclusionary attitudes of male players who viewed the game as their domain, often dismissing or outright discouraging female participation. Vance’s offhand comment raises the question: How many of those 15-year-old girls, whom he presumed had no interest, might have been eager to learn the game if they had been welcomed?

In recent years, MTG’s owner, Wizards of the Coast, has recognized the need to make the game more inclusive. The company, a subsidiary of Hasbro, has worked to remove sexist imagery from the cards and foster a more welcoming environment for all players. These efforts have naturally faced pushback from those who, like Vance, resist change in favor of clinging to outdated norms.

Beyond his relationship with MTG, Vance’s apparent misunderstanding of “The Lord of the Rings” suggests he may not be the most astute nerd after all. J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic, written in the shadow of World War I, is fundamentally about the importance of unity among diverse groups in the face of overwhelming evil and the dangers of seeking unchecked power. Yet, as noted by The New York Times’ David French and Jamelle Bouie, there is little evidence that these themes have resonated with Vance.

Vance shares this blind spot with his political benefactor, billionaire Peter Thiel, who famously named his data analytics company Palantir after the ominous, all-seeing orbs in “The Lord of the Rings” used by the villains to spy on their enemies. While the reference demonstrates Thiel’s deep knowledge of Tolkien’s work, it also betrays a complete lack of understanding of its underlying message—an irony that seems lost on both Thiel and Vance.

This selective interpretation of nerd culture’s values is not unique to Vance. It’s a phenomenon seen across various fan communities, where some members conveniently ignore the progressive messages embedded in their favorite stories. For example, a recent Reddit post on the r/Conservative message board described how a group of “Star Trek” fans were shocked to hear political discussions at a Las Vegas convention. How these fans could overlook the series’ long-standing left-leaning ideals, set in a post-capitalist utopia where diversity is celebrated, remains a mystery.

Despite these contradictions, Vance and his like-minded peers fail to recognize that the nerds have, in many ways, already won. Geek culture has become mainstream, with the biggest franchises in the world embracing diversity and representation. The real oddity lies not in Vance’s love for comic books or science fiction but in his refusal to share this cultural victory with anyone who doesn’t fit his outdated vision of what a nerd should be.

Reflecting on Vance’s evolution, it becomes clear that his nerd credentials are overshadowed by his political transformation. Over the past eight years, Vance has shifted from a vocal critic of Donald Trump to a potential vice-presidential candidate under the former president. Much like with MTG, Vance has seemingly abandoned his previous principles, adapting his beliefs to align with his chosen political in-group. In doing so, he has become the kind of nerd who punches down out of fear of being targeted himself, revealing a troubling willingness to sacrifice integrity for acceptance.