Vice President JD Vance Describes Unsettling Interaction with a Multibillion-Dollar Tech CEO

Examining the Intersection of Technological Innovation, Workforce Disruption, and American Trade Policy

Vice President JD Vance recently recounted the details of an unusual conversation he experienced with a multibillion-dollar technology chief executive officer. In a speech delivered at the American Dynamism Summit, Vance detailed a discussion that took place during a 2017 dinner event he hosted alongside his wife, Usha Vance, with a group of Silicon Valley business leaders. This account not only sheds light on the deep concerns regarding the future of work in an era marked by rapid technological innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) but also serves as a platform for the vice president’s robust support of President Trump’s trade policies, which he argues are essential for safeguarding American manufacturing and ensuring long-term economic stability.

In what may seem like an improbable collision of ideologies, Vance described how, over dinner, topics ranging from the societal impact of AI to the implications of a globalized economy were discussed. During that evening, a prominent technology CEO—whose identity Vance did not disclose—expressed his lack of concern regarding the automation of jobs. According to Vance’s account, the CEO declared that the rise of “digital fully immersive gaming” would, in his view, provide individuals with a new sense of purpose that would counterbalance the potential displacement of traditional job roles. Reflecting on the conversation, Vance recalled that his wife, Usha, sent him a discreet yet frank text message under the table that read, “We have to get the hell out of here, these people are f-ing crazy.” This candid moment, shared with the audience of the American Dynamism Summit, has served as a significant point of discussion regarding the broader issues of globalization, innovation, and the future of American labor.