David French critiques the "Heritage American" concept promoted by JD Vance and his allies, which grades citizenship based on ancestral lineage. French, whose family traces back to the Mayflower and Colonial era, argues this idea creates a hierarchy where "colonial old stock" Americans receive an A grade while post-WWII immigrants get a D. Vance stated at the Claremont Institute that Civil War descendants have "a hell of a lot more claim over America" than others.

French warns this inherited virtue framework fuels opposition to merit-based admissions at University of Texas, where Asian American students excel, and mirrors white supremacist rhetoric about securing "a future for white children." He emphasizes the Declaration of Independence's principle that all citizens are equal morally, culturally, and legally regardless of ancestry. French notes Vivek Ramaswamy previously debunked this concept in The Times, but argues the vacuum of robust civic education allows such toxic ideas to flourish. The Heritage American framework fundamentally contradicts American ideals by making public policy serve people based on bloodline rather than shared citizenship.