WASHINGTON – Vice President JD Vance ignited a national firestorm Tuesday, vowing to “take back every inch of U.S. land owned by China” and leaving them “not one blade of grass,” a hardline stance against foreign ownership that’s rallying Trump’s base while drawing sharp rebukes from critics. Speaking at a Columbus Day rally in Ohio, Vance framed the push as essential to national security, decrying Chinese entities’ grip on American farmland and resources as a “silent invasion” that threatens food supplies and sovereignty.
Vance’s rhetoric echoes longstanding GOP concerns: Chinese investors control about 384,000 acres of U.S. agricultural land, per USDA data—less than 1% of the total but concentrated in key states like Texas and North Carolina. “It’s not normal for an adversary to own chunks of our heartland,” Vance thundered, citing examples like Fufeng Group’s abandoned North Dakota project near a military base. He pledged legislative muscle, including bans on new purchases and forced divestitures via eminent domain, building on his 2022 Senate campaign vows to prohibit “Chinese Communist Party asset grabs.”
The declaration aligns with Trump’s second-term agenda, including a proposed $25 billion fund to buy back foreign-held properties. Supporters, like Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), hailed it as “America First in action,” warning of espionage risks—echoing a 2023 USDA report flagging 49 deals near sensitive sites. At the rally, crowds chanted “Not one blade!”—a nod to Vance’s unyielding tone—bolstering his profile amid midterms.
Democrats pounced, branding it xenophobic overreach. “This isn’t security—it’s scaremongering that hurts farmers and investors,” shot back Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), noting most Chinese holdings are benign corporate stakes. The ACLU warned of constitutional pitfalls, invoking Takings Clause challenges. Fact-checkers highlight Vance’s own venture capital ties to AcreTrader, a platform facilitating farmland investments open to foreigners, though not directly to China—fueling hypocrisy accusations.
As bills like the Secure America’s Farmland Act gain traction, Vance’s call tests economic realities: Reclaiming land could cost billions and spike food prices, per Brookings estimates. Yet in a polarized nation, it’s catnip for nationalists. With China tensions simmering—from tariffs to Taiwan—Vance’s blade-of-grass battle cry signals a broader war: Over soil, security, and the American dream.
