Hanson: Fang Fang Tried The Same Trap
Victor Davis Hanson recently reminded people that the Fang Fang story isn’t new. He says the Chinese operative tried this routine on him years ago. He didn’t buy it. And he’s not shy about calling out the people who did.
Hanson told the story from his Hoover Institution office. Simple setup. He kept the door open. He had a researcher with him. He watched how Fang Fang acted and how she dressed.
He didn’t soften his take. He said, “I wrote some critical things about China, and Fang Fang came to see me as a consular official out of the Bay Area,” Hanson said. “And I think she told me she was a political operative who monitored American politics.
But when she walked into my office at the Hoover Institution, I kept the door open. I had one of my research people with me the whole time. And the way she changed accents and how she was dressed, you would have to be a stupid, narcissistic idiot to fall for that. I’m serious.”
Hanson also compared his experience to what happened with Rep. Eric Swalwell. He was blunt.
“In my case, he would say it’s easier because I’m an old man,” he continued. “But my point was, it was about 10 or 12 years ago. And he fell for that. And he got involved with her when he was on the House Intelligence Committee. So, end of story, with that guy…Honeypot is just a joke. Anybody could see that.”
The point is simple. Hanson says this was obvious. The signs were there. He kept it professional and cautious. Others, he argues, did not.
Why does this still matter? Because it highlights gaps in judgment and security around people working on intelligence and oversight. If a supposed honeypot is that obvious to a veteran scholar, questions should be asked about why a member of the House Intelligence Committee got entangled.
The clip is from 2025 but it’s resurfacing as the Swalwell story heats up again. Hanson’s version adds sharp, public criticism from someone well-known in conservative circles. It won’t calm those who worry about foreign influence. If anything, it sharpens the argument that standards of caution matter—especially in sensitive roles.
VDH: Eric Swalwell wasn’t the only one Fang Fang approached in CA — he was just the one stupid enough to fall into the trap.
"I wrote some critical things of China, and Fang Fang came to see me."
“The way she changed accents and how she was dressed, you would have to be a… pic.twitter.com/DPtVFJdpym
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) April 1, 2026