Vice President JD Vance took a surprising turn this Halloween, directly addressing a months-long internet joke at his own expense. He didn’t shy away from the meme; he leaned into it, crafting a moment that instantly captivated the online world.
A short video, filmed at the Naval Observatory, showed Vance answering the door to trick-or-treaters. Dressed in a suit and tie, he delivered a cheerful “Happy Halloween, kids… remember, say thank you!” – a direct nod to the viral phrase that had become synonymous with his image.
Then came the reveal. Under a wash of purple light and the iconic theme from “The Twilight Zone,” Vance spun around, sporting a curly brown wig. It was a self-aware, perfectly timed acknowledgment of the “fat JD with curly hair” meme that had taken hold online.
The response was immediate and overwhelming. Within hours, the TikTok clip soared past 250,000 likes and an astonishing 14 million views. The video ignited conversations across Instagram, X, and Facebook, generating thousands of comments.
The meme originated from a February exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A photo of Vance, subsequently altered with exaggerated features and unruly hair, circulated widely, accompanied by captions highlighting perceived politeness lapses. It quickly became a running joke.
Rather than attempting to suppress the ridicule, Vance chose a different path: embrace it. The White House’s official X account even playfully joined in, posting mock “costume packages” that included a “JD Vance Costume” – pointedly excluding the infamous curly hair.
Vance’s Halloween post was the final, brilliant piece of the puzzle. He completed the gag himself, demonstrating a willingness to laugh at himself and connect with the online culture that had playfully targeted him.
The video quickly became a trending topic, with screenshots flooding social media. Reactions ranged from enthusiastic praise – one user declared him “the best VP ever” – to simple amusement, including a laughing emoji from Elon Musk.
Even some initial critics conceded the point, acknowledging Vance’s clever response. Users rapidly remixed the Halloween look with the original meme, creating a wave of new content that amplified its reach.
This lighthearted stunt aligns with a broader digital strategy. The current administration, like its predecessor, understands the power of viral content and embraces meme culture as a means of connecting with the public.
By Friday night, Vance’s Halloween post continued to climb, exceeding 14 million views. He’d achieved something rare for a politician: transforming a potentially damaging meme into a personal victory, proving that even a vice president can find humor in the internet’s playful jabs.
