JD Vance Halloween Post Tops 15 Million Views/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Vice President JD Vance went viral on Halloween for dressing up as a meme of himself, complete with a curly wig and playful reference to a popular internet joke. The video, filmed at the Naval Observatory, garnered over 15 million views across social media. Vance’s post won praise for its humor and self-awareness, even from political critics.
JD Vance’s Meme Costume Goes Viral Quick Looks
- Vice President JD Vance dresses as meme version of himself
- Viral costume features curly wig and red tie
- Video filmed at Naval Observatory hits 34+ million views
- Memes began after Vance’s February meeting with Zelenskyy
- Online joke included captions like “you didn’t say thank you”
- White House joined in with mock costume packaging post
- Elon Musk and critics alike reacted with amusement
- Post fits into Trump administration’s meme-savvy strategy
- Social media users remix Halloween costume into new memes
- Vance’s self-deprecating humor praised across platforms
Deep Look
JD Vance Goes Viral as Himself: Vice President Dresses as Internet Meme for Halloween
Vice President JD Vance turned Halloween into a viral sensation this year—by dressing up as his own internet meme.
In a TikTok video posted Thursday evening and filmed at the Naval Observatory, Vance appeared wearing a dark suit, red tie, and the unmistakable addition of a curly brown wig, referencing the long-running “fat JD with curly hair” meme that has followed him since February. Greeting trick-or-treaters at the vice president’s residence, he smiled and delivered the now-iconic line, “Happy Halloween, kids… remember, say thank you!”—a nod to the internet’s favorite caption paired with the meme image.
As purple lights flickered and the eerie “Twilight Zone” theme played, Vance spun in place, channeling both humor and Halloween spirit. The 15-second clip rapidly spread across Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook, racking up over 15 million views and more than 250,000 likes in under 24 hours—an exceptional level of engagement for any political figure.
The Meme That Sparked It All
The viral meme originated earlier this year after a tense Oval Office meeting between Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A still photo of Vance, taken during the exchange, was edited online to exaggerate his features and give him curly hair. Captions like “you didn’t say please” and “you didn’t say thank you” became punchlines across platforms, turning the VP into a reluctant internet character.
Instead of dodging the mockery, Vance leaned in. The Halloween costume was a full-circle moment—embracing the meme with good humor and self-awareness.
“He did the meme. LOL,” wrote one user on X.
Another called it, “the best political post of the year.”
Even tech billionaire Elon Musk chimed in, replying with a laughing emoji. Critics who had mocked the meme weeks earlier acknowledged the move as savvy. “Turning a roast into a punchline you control—that’s next-level PR,” one user noted.
White House Embraces the Joke
Earlier in the week, the White House’s X account joined the fun by posting parody costume packaging images of various political figures. The mock “JD Vance Costume” humorously stated it “does not include the fat JD curly hair”—leaving the final touch for Vance to complete himself. When he did, the internet noticed.
It’s not the first time the Trump-Vance White House has leaned into meme culture. The administration’s communication team has fully embraced digital-first strategies, including viral humor, trending formats, and even AI-generated content. Halloween was simply another opportunity to show they know how to play—and win—the internet’s game.
A Political Win in a Wig
In an era when most politicians are cautious about social media missteps, Vance’s light-hearted take stood out. Analysts noted how rare it is for a sitting vice president to successfully engage with internet culture on its own terms—especially when the joke is on them.
“This is how you take control of a narrative,” one political strategist tweeted.
“Own the joke, and it can’t own you.”
From close-up selfies to jump-cut remixes, users quickly turned Vance’s wig-clad moment into meme-worthy content all over again. By Friday night, the post was still climbing in reach, making it one of the most-watched political videos of the year.
The Vice President’s office did not respond to Fox News’ request for comment, but the message may already be clear: when it comes to political optics, a little self-deprecation goes a long way.
And for JD Vance, Halloween wasn’t just a fun moment—it was a viral win.
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