JD Vance Says He Wouldn't Be Shocked If Antichrist Were 'Walking Among Us,' Discusses End Times

Vice President JD Vance has said he would not be shocked if the Antichrist were 'walking among us', while admitting he is fascinated by end-times beliefs.

In a wide-ranging interview about his Roman Catholic faith, Vance also said he was comfortable with the possibility that 'doing God's work' could contribute to the end times, although he repeatedly stressed that he does not know whether humanity is living through them.

The comments came during an interview with 22-year-old Christian podcaster Bryce Crawford, released on 31 August 2026. Vance was promoting his memoir, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, which was published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins, on 16 June. The book recounts his return to Christianity and conversion to Catholicism in 2019.

Crawford asked Vance whether he believed the world was already living through the end times.

'Do I think that we're in the end times? I don't know,' Vance said. He added that focusing too much on the subject could be 'bad' for him spiritually because he had more immediate responsibilities.

Vance then addressed the possibility of the Antichrist already being present.

'I think that there are, like, things about the world that make me feel like not shocked if the Antichrist was walking among us,' he said. 'But again, I try not to focus too much on it.'

'If That Leads To The End Times, OK'

Vance went further when discussing whether his own work could contribute to the end times.

'I tend to think, like, while I wouldn't be shocked if we are living in the end times, what I'm trying to focus on is doing as much of God's work as possible right now,' he said.

'And if that leads to the end times, OK. And if that leads to you know, us building a better world that thrives and survives for a very long time after I'm gone, that's great too.'

Vance did not identify anyone as the Antichrist or say that the end times were imminent. His comments were framed as uncertainty about biblical prophecy, alongside a stated preference to concentrate on his family and responsibilities as vice president.

Vance also discussed artificial intelligence, saying developments in technology and the replacement of human interaction with AI contributed to his sense that some aspects of modern life had a troubling spiritual dimension.

Vance Rates His Chances Of Reaching Heaven

Crawford also asked Vance how confident he was, on a scale of one to 10, that he would go to Heaven.

'Oh man, that is a tough question. It's high but it's not 10... It's a seven or it's an eight,' Vance replied.

The question produced another unusually personal moment in an interview with a sitting vice president, with Vance acknowledging uncertainty rather than claiming absolute religious confidence.

Vance Defends Trump's AI Jesus Image

Crawford also asked Vance about an AI-generated image Donald Trump posted earlier in 2026 that appeared to depict the president as Jesus.

Trump later said he thought the image showed him as a doctor before deleting the post after widespread criticism. Vance defended Trump's intentions, saying the president 'did not mean to, like, mock or mimic God'.

Vance said Trump often jokes and tries to keep things light, adding that the president's staff sometimes brings him material they think he will enjoy.

Peter Thiel's Antichrist Lectures

Vance's remarks also come against the backdrop of his political ties to billionaire investor Peter Thiel, an early political backer of Vance.

Thiel separately held a four-day series of closed-door lectures in Rome in March 2026. Reuters reported that Thiel has warned of an Antichrist who could emerge as a world leader promising protection from existential threats such as nuclear war, artificial intelligence or climate change.

Vance's position remains more cautious than the headline may suggest. He says he does not know whether the world is in the end times, does not claim to know who the Antichrist might be and says he tries not to focus too heavily on prophecy.

But he is clearly fascinated by the subject — and says he would not be shocked if the Antichrist were already 'walking among us'.