Politics

Historian Victor Davis Hanson Talks on Trump’s Vision for a Safer America

Published

6 months ago

October 13, 2025

LOS ANGELES – In today’s rough-and-tumble political scene, few conservative thinkers carry as much weight as Victor Davis Hanson. A leading voice in classical and military history, he offers steady analysis in a time of noise and spin. As the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow in Classics and Military History at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, he applies a lifetime of study to current events.

Born in 1953 on his family farm in Selma, California, he shares the rural traditions he often writes about. A fifth-generation farmer, he worked full-time in orchards and vineyards from 1980 to 1984, then turned to teaching.

He earned a B.A. in classics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1975, followed by a Ph.D. at Stanford in 1980. He founded the classics programme at California State University, Fresno, and later became professor emeritus there.

His awards match the scale of his scholarship. In 2007, President George W. Bush presented him with the National Humanities Medal for his work on Western thought. In 2008, he won the Bradley Prize for contributions to liberty and civic life.

Other honours include the Eric Breindel Award for Opinion Journalism (2002), the Claremont Institute’s Henry Salvatori Award (2022), and the American Spirit Award from the National World War II Museum (2021).

He has held fellowships with the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Alexander Onassis Foundation, and was named alumnus of the year by UC Santa Cruz. He has written more than two dozen books.

Victor Davis Hanson Syndicated

Key titles include The Western Way of War (1989), a major study of Greek hoplite warfare, and Carnage and Culture (2001), an account of why Western militaries have often prevailed through innovation and confidence. His essays appear in National Review, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times, and his syndicated columns reach a wide audience each week.

What makes Hanson a touchstone for many conservatives is his mix of historical insight and frank cultural critique. He often draws lines between ancient examples and modern dilemmas, comparing the complacency of late Rome to elite detachment in America, or reading lessons from the Peloponnesian War into recent foreign policy errors.

His appeal rests not only on learning, but on connection to place. He writes as a farmer-scholar from the Central Valley, not as a coastal insider. He backs traditional ideas like merit, free speech, and deterrence, which speak to readers weary of identity politics and expanding bureaucracy.

A Hoover Institution profile called his approach “principled realism”, a stance that some see as echoing Andrew Jackson’s spirit.

Influential figures such as Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich have praised his clarity. Limbaugh hailed The Case for Trump, first published in 2019 and updated in 2024, as an ideal guide to the 45th president. In an academy that leans left, his position at Hoover gives him a central role as a classicist within modern conservatism, with reach from Capitol Hill to campaign war rooms.

Hasnons Case for Trump

Hanson’s case for Donald J. Trump is central to his recent work. He presents Trump not as a wrecking ball, but as a needed counterforce to a tired and self-protective class. In the updated The Case for Trump, he argues the 2016 result was a Jacksonian revolt, not a fluke. The outsider with no prior office overcame 16 Republican rivals and a well-funded Democratic effort by tapping the anger of the heartland.

That coalition included working-class whites, some union voters, and a fifth to a third of Latino and African American voters who felt looked down on by elites. Hanson compares Trump’s rise to ancient figures who upset entrenched circles, but he says the turbulence has purpose.

In his view, the country could not endure serial presidencies as volatile as Trump’s, yet after years of drift, it needed one outsider who would take on tasks that career politicians would avoid. He argues this posture allows Trump to uproot the stale practices of globalisation, identity sorting, and bureaucratic sprawl.

At home, Hanson frames a second Trump term, beginning in January 2025, as a counterrevolution on the scale of the New Deal, only with a restorative aim. In essays such as “Can Trump Revolutionize America?” in The Free Press (March 2025), he lists early claims of progress.

He points to tougher border policy aimed at reversing what he counts as 10 million illegal crossings under Biden, sweeping deregulation to cut federal costs by trillions over time, and tax changes that put growth ahead of deficits.

Radical Revolution

He says Trump ignores corporate pressure for cheap migrant labour, channels immigration through legal points of entry, and shifts culture from grievance to pride, a trend he links to public figures who once knelt for “systemic racism” and now celebrate wins. On trade and finance, he backs tariffs as a bid for fair-dealing with China and others, guarding American industry and shoring up the dollar’s reserve status.

In society, he targets “woke” orthodoxies. He casts universities as overpriced indoctrination centres that should lose public funds if they silence speech, and calls for procurement reforms in the armed forces to sweep away DEI rules that he believes hurt recruiting and morale. Grounded in his farming past and his study of Greek citizen-soldiers, he praises a system based on merit and duty.

He says this turn would correct the “radical revolution” of the 2020s, which he describes as an Obama third term under Biden, marked by open borders, expanding entitlements, and runaway debt. He wants a reset to constitutional standards and renewed class mobility.

On foreign affairs, Hanson argues the world grows safer when America projects toughness with restraint. He highlights what he calls Trump’s “principled realism”, or a Jacksonian do-not-tread-on-us stance that deters foes without starting new conflicts.

In The Case for Trump, he credits the first term with no major new wars, record domestic energy output that undercut OPEC, and the Abraham Accords, which he says supported a calmer Middle East.

He contends the Biden years rolled back these gains. After Trump’s 2024 win, Hanson points to swift moves he endorses, such as pausing aid to Ukraine to force a negotiated end, paired with resource deals, hitting Iran’s nuclear assets with precise strikes, and leaning on Europe to meet NATO duties in the face of Russian pressure in the Baltics.

Support Isn’t Hero Worshiping

He argues Biden’s approach rewarded bad actors, citing the Afghanistan exit, Chinese balloons, and Houthis attacks in the Red Sea. Under Trump, he says, leaders like Putin and Xi would rethink their plans. He claims tariffs crimp China’s Belt and Road push, and that Israel’s actions against Hamas and Iranian-linked sites gained from stronger US backing after 7 October.

Drawing on The Second World Wars (2017), he warns that American power is finite, so friends should find no better ally and enemies no worse foe. He believes Trump follows that rule, which in his view helps avoid long slogs like the Ukraine crisis or prolonged fighting in Gaza. In a 2025 Hoover podcast, he urges a review of the UN’s New York base, calling it a spent institution like the League of Nations, out of step with real threats.

Hanson says his support is not hero worship, but a judgment shaped by history. He casts Trump as the cure for what he describes as Barack Obama’s flawed reading of demography, where affirmative action grew into tribal politics, and for Joe Biden’s careful branding of radical measures as moderate.

He claims Trump’s knack for baiting elites exposes double standards, from antisemitism on campus to legal cases timed for effect, including those brought by Jack Smith. For conservatives, his voice draws on hard work in Selma’s vineyards and long study of wars from Marathon to the Somme. It backs a picture of America that is guarded, orderly, and fair, where strength keeps the peace and common sense replaces revolution.

He also warns of obstacles. In “Reflections on the Counter-Revolution in America” (June 2025), he argues that the left’s pushback, from lawfare and media storms to sanctuary city defiance, mirrors the zeal of French radicals. He cites early 2025 moves like cancelling clearances for Biden-era officials and cutting refugee funding as early tests of resolve.

Yet he stays upbeat. He says Trump’s base now includes many former Democrats, a sign of a broader “MAGA meritocracy” with staying power. Across his X feed and podcasts, he returns to a theme from antiquity. Great powers fall when they grow soft, but they recover when leaders confront decline.

Hanson’s staying power comes from this mix of history and straight talk. For readers tired of drift, he offers not only argument, but assurance. In his view, Trump’s revolution is not chaos; it is a last push to save the republic.

In a time of wars abroad and discord at home, he says a steadier and safer world is within reach for those who restore deterrence and demand fair play. Like a farmer turning the soil, he works to prepare the ground where hope can grow.

Politics

Eric Swalwell’s Governor Campaign in Crisis After Multiple Assault Allegations Surface

Published

12 hours ago

April 11, 2026

VORNews

SACRAMENTO – The race for California’s next governor took a seismic shift Friday as Representative Eric Swalwell’s campaign plummeted into chaos. Two separate investigative reports have surfaced detailing serious allegations of sexual assault and professional misconduct, leading to a mass exodus of campaign staff and a chorus of voices demanding his immediate withdrawal from the contest.

By Friday afternoon, what began as a promising bid to lead the nation’s most populous state appeared to be on the verge of total collapse.

The crisis began with a series of investigative reports published late Thursday and early Friday morning. The reports include testimony from former aides and acquaintances who allege a pattern of inappropriate behavior spanning several years.

One report details an incident of alleged sexual assault involving a former campaign volunteer during a 2022 fundraising event. A second report outlines multiple accounts of “predatory” professional misconduct, with several women describing an environment where career advancement was allegedly tied to personal favors.

While the Congressman has long been a fixture in national politics—known for his frequent cable news appearances and high-profile role in impeachment proceedings—these new allegations have created a political firestorm that transcends his usual partisan battles.

Eric Swalwell’s Campaign in Freefall

The internal reaction to the news was swift and devastating. By Friday morning, at least six senior staffers, including his campaign manager and communications director, had tendered their resignations.

In a joint statement, several departing aides expressed their inability to continue their work:

“We joined this campaign because we believed in a vision for California’s future. However, the nature of the allegations brought to light today is inconsistent with the values we hold. We can no longer, in good conscience, represent this candidacy.”

The loss of top-tier talent leaves the Swalwell operation without a functional leadership structure at a critical juncture in the primary cycle.

The political fallout has not been limited to internal staff. In California, where the Democratic Party holds a supermajority, the “blue wall” of support for Swalwell is rapidly crumbling.

Calls for Withdrawal

Prominent Allies: Several high-ranking members of the California Democratic delegation, who had previously endorsed Swalwell, issued a “wait-and-see” stance earlier in the day before eventually calling for him to step aside to “allow the party to heal.”
Gubernatorial Rivals: Rival candidates were more direct. State Senator Aisha Wahab and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis both issued statements Friday suggesting that the allegations make Swalwell’s continued presence in the race a “distraction” from the needs of Californians.
Advocacy Groups: Women’s rights organizations and political action committees that typically support Democratic candidates have frozen their funding and called for an independent investigation.

Swalwell’s Response

Representative Swalwell’s office released a brief, defiant statement Friday afternoon. In it, the Congressman denied the most severe allegations, calling them “politically motivated attacks” intended to derail his momentum.

“I have spent my career fighting for justice and the rule of law,” the statement read. “I am deeply saddened by the departure of my staff, but I intend to stay in this race and allow the facts to come out. I ask for the public to reserve judgment until the full story is told.”

Despite the defiance, political analysts suggest the path forward is nearly non-existent. With no campaign infrastructure and a rapidly evaporating donor base, the logistics of a statewide run become nearly impossible.

The 2026 California Gubernatorial race is already one of the most expensive and watched contests in the country. With Governor Gavin Newsom termed out, the field is crowded with ambitious Democrats.

If Swalwell exits the race, it would trigger a massive realignment of endorsements and campaign contributions. Political strategist Marcus Thorne noted that the “Swalwell lane”—which focused on gun control and tech-forward policy—is now wide open.

“This isn’t just about one man anymore,” Thorne said. “This is about the integrity of the Democratic primary. If he stays in, he risks dragging the entire party down with him in a year where every vote counts.”

The coming days will be decisive. California’s filing deadlines are approaching, and the pressure from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is reportedly intensifying behind the scenes.

For now, the Congressman remains in the race, but he finds himself increasingly isolated on a political island. As the sun set over the State Capitol on Friday, the question among Sacramento insiders was no longer if Swalwell would exit, but when.

Key Takeaways from the Friday Crisis:

Two Investigative Reports: Allegations include sexual assault and workplace misconduct.
Mass Resignations: Key leadership, including the Campaign Manager, has quit.
Bipartisan Pressure: Both allies and rivals are demanding he end his bid for Governor.
Political Vacuum: A Swalwell exit would shift millions of dollars in potential donations to other candidates.

The scandal marks a stunning turn for a politician who once sought the Presidency and has been a leading voice in the House of Representatives. In the fast-moving world of California politics, the next 72 hours will likely determine if Eric Swalwell’s political career can survive or if this is the final chapter.

Related News:

Major Lawsuit Questions Eric Swalwell’s California Governor Eligibility

Politics

New York Governor Hochul Slammed For Begging Rich to Return

Published

1 week ago

April 3, 2026

VORNews

NEW YORK – Governor Kathy Hochul faces criticism from both sides of the aisle. She recently urged wealthy people who fled the state to come back. However, folks still remember her 2022 campaign remarks. Back then, she told opponents to grab a bus ticket to Florida.

This change fuels charges of inconsistency. It also spotlights New York’s shrinking tax base. The state struggles to fund its big social programs as a result.

At a Politico event this month, Hochul discussed state finances. She rejected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s push for higher taxes on the rich. Instead, she stressed the need to keep or attract high earners.

“We need high-net-worth people to back our generous social programs,” she said. Some patriotic millionaires already pay extra, she noted. Then she added a key point. “First, let’s head to Palm Beach and convince some to return home. Our tax base has shrunk too much.”

Hochul admitted that other states offer lower taxes for people and businesses. Data backs this up. Many rich New Yorkers have moved to Florida, Texas, and similar spots in recent years.

Critics point to her words from four years ago. Hochul campaigned against Republican Lee Zeldin. She aimed barbs at Donald Trump and Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro.

“Trump, Zeldin, and Molinaro should jump on a bus to Florida where you fit. Get out of town. You don’t match our values,” she declared.

Now, people say those comments pushed conservatives and tax-weary wealthy folks to leave. Many packed up for warmer, cheaper states. Social media lights up with side-by-side videos of her old rant and new appeal. Commentators call it desperate or a total reversal. Budget woes drive the shift, they claim.

New York’s Tax Base Challenges

The state counts on top earners for most income tax revenue. A few percent of residents cover a huge chunk. When they go, schools, health care, transit, and services suffer big losses.

IRS data shows an outflow of rich people and workers. Palm Beach County in Florida draws a lot of that wealth.

Hochul’s camp highlights New York’s strengths in finance, tech, culture, and business. Still, they recognize the competition. Florida’s no-income-tax policy and lower living costs pull people away.

Several factors fuel this exodus, reports show. High income taxes lead the pack since New York tops national rates. Housing, utilities, and daily costs stay sky-high, especially near the city. Remote work after COVID lets pros relocate easily. Policy clashes over crime, schools, and rules send some packing. Plus, many skipped town during pandemic lockdowns and stayed gone.

Reactions Roll In from New Yorkers

Responses hit fast and hard. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican running for governor, dubbed it Hochul’s most honest moment. He mocked the pitch to swap Palm Beach sunshine, no state tax, and calm for New York’s issues. Cut taxes and costs instead of pleading, he advised.

Conservatives and business leaders agree. They push for tax cuts, fewer rules, and safer streets to compete. Appeals to patriotic millionaires won’t cut it, they say.

Some Democrats back her, though. They view it as facing facts. A wide tax base funds key services without slamming one group. The state offers incentives to lure businesses and people, they add. Online, memes mock the flip. “Come back, we need your tax money” pops up everywhere.

Bigger Picture: Blue State Exodus

New York isn’t unique. California and Illinois lose residents and firms to low-tax red states, too. This trend stirs national debates. Experts warn of a downward spiral. Fewer taxpayers force rate hikes. That chases away more people.

Hochul resists broad tax hikes on the rich during budget battles. She wants the state to stay competitive. Yet progressives like Mamdani demand more from top earners. Her words seek balance. Keep taxes fair and draw back high earners. With re-election looming, this topic matters. Voters watch budget moves, the economy, and daily life.

Tax-cut fans urge affordable homes, safe streets, cheap energy, and pro-business rules. Left-leaning critics want steeper taxes on the rich and bigger social spending.

Regular New Yorkers ask why people left and what pulls them back for good. Hochul reopened that talk publicly. Her Palm Beach plea may fall flat without policy fixes. Reactions so far scream too late. The next months will show if migration reverses or wealth keeps flowing out. Her mixed signals leave some confused and others mad.

Trending News:

Who Is Leading the Democratic Party in 2026?

Politics

Trump Ousts Attorney General Pam Bondi, Taps Loyalist Todd Blanche

Published

1 week ago

April 3, 2026

VORNews

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump shocked the Justice Department on Thursday. He fired Pam Bondi as U.S. Attorney General. Her deputy, Todd Blanche, steps in right away as acting attorney general.

Trump posted the news on Truth Social. He called Bondi a great American patriot. She now heads to a key private-sector job. Trump praised Blanche as a talented legal expert. This switch follows weeks of backlash against Bondi’s leadership. People questioned her work on big cases.

Bondi served about a year as attorney general. She started in early 2025. The Senate confirmed her on strict party lines.

Both parties criticized her during that time. Some said she chased politically driven cases. Others doubted the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Epstein, the convicted sex offender, still draws huge attention.

Lawmakers from both sides accused her team of delaying sensitive papers. They wanted more openness. Bipartisan pressure built up.

Bondi fought back in statements. She highlighted fraud fights and immigration work. Reports show Trump talked with advisors for days about a change. Bondi knew about those chats.

In her statement, Bondi said she felt proud to serve. She plans a smooth handover with Blanche over the next month. She looks forward to her private job. There, she will keep backing Trump’s goals.

Meet Todd Blanche: Trump’s Pick for Acting AG

Todd Blanche, age 51, has a solid legal background. He began as a federal prosecutor in New York City’s Southern District. For almost 10 years, he tackled violent crimes, fraud, and corruption.

Later, he joined private practice at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft as a partner. He handled investigations and defenses. His clients included Paul Manafort and Rudy Giuliani. Most importantly, he defended Donald Trump.

Blanche led Trump’s team in the New York hush-money case with Stormy Daniels. He also worked on the 2020 election issues and the classified documents matter.

Trump trusted him after that close teamwork. Post-2024 election, Trump picked him as deputy attorney general. The Senate approved him 52-46 in March 2025.

As deputy, Blanche ran daily operations. That covers the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Marshals. He even acted as the librarian of Congress briefly. This firing marks the second major cabinet exit lately. Other spots in the administration faced shake-ups, too.

Friction points included several issues. First, the Epstein files stirred trouble. People questioned the release timing and fullness. That led to favoritism claims.

Next, some saw aggressive pursuits against Trump’s foes. In addition, internal fights over staff, focus, and messages grew. Trump stressed loyalty and outcomes in his post. He thanked Bondi. He showed faith in Blanche’s skills. Blanche replied fast on social media. He thanked Bondi for leadership and friendship. He also thanked Trump for the chance.

How Parties Responded

Democrats hit back hard. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer worried about Blanche’s Trump lawyer’s past. They fear it mixes loyalty with fair justice. Some noted his Ghislaine Maxwell interview. Maxwell is linked to Epstein. Critics called it wrong, but transcripts showed no formal deal.

Republicans backed the move. They praised Bondi’s crime and border work. They view Blanche as a steady prosecutor who gets Trump’s plans. Experts note acting AGs often fill in short-term. The White House hunts for a Senate-approved permanent pick. EPA head Lee Zeldin pops up in talks.

The department has over 115,000 staff. It covers security and rights protection. Top changes hit morale, probes, and policies. Blanche promises steady work in key spots. He talks up fraud battles, police support, and trust-building lately.

Fans like his prosecutor-defense mix for balance. Critics worry Trump ties mean more politics. For now, he handles the switch. He juggles big cases while they pick a long-term boss.

Trump might nominate Blanche full-time. Sources say he considers other loyal conservatives, too. Any pick needs Senate okay. Republicans hold a slim edge. Hearings could spark fights over independence. Bondi’s leave prompts oversight vows. Both parties plan checks, maybe testimony on old calls.

Trump ousted Pam Bondi after 14 months. Todd Blanche, his ex-lawyer and deputy, takes the acting AG role. Criticism over the Epstein files and more drove it. Bondi heads private; she sees it as an honor.

Todd Blanche offers New York prosecution chops and private know-how. Parties split: loyalty vs. fairness worries. It fits recent staff shifts. Blanche now guides Justice amid heat. Watch how he handles probes and politics.