Vice President JD Vance joined in on the internet’s fun this Halloween, posting a lighthearted video that playfully referenced a long-running meme about him.
In a TikTok clip filmed at the Naval Observatory residence, Vance appears in a dark suit and red tie, wearing a curly brown wig to complete the joke. Opening the door to trick-or-treaters, he smiles and says, “Happy Halloween, kids … remember, say thank you!” — a direct nod to the viral “you didn’t say thank you” meme. The video ends with Vance spinning under purple lights as the classic Twilight Zone theme plays.
The 41-year-old vice president’s post quickly went viral, amassing over 250,000 likes and 14 million views within hours. Comments flooded in across TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook, with thousands of users reacting to the rare moment of political self-awareness.
The meme originated earlier this year after a tense exchange between Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. A photo of Vance was later edited online to exaggerate his features, turning him into the so-called “fat JD with curly hair” character, often paired with captions like “you didn’t say please” or “you didn’t say thank you.”
Rather than ignore the mockery, Vance leaned into it. Earlier this week, the official White House X account joined the trend by sharing mock “costume package” graphics of political figures, including a “JD Vance Costume” that humorously noted it “does not include the fat JD curly hair.” Vance’s own Halloween post completed the joke by adding that missing touch himself.
Within hours, his post began trending across social media. Screenshots spread rapidly, with some users calling him “the best VP ever” and others joking that “JD just won 2028.” Elon Musk reacted with a simple laughing emoji, while even a few critics applauded the move — one comment on X simply read, “he did the meme lol.”
Remixes soon followed, blending his Halloween clip with the original meme, jump cuts, and sound effects, as the video circulated across platforms.
For an administration known for its meme-savvy approach, Vance’s Halloween moment fits right in with President Trump’s digital strategy — one that thrives on viral humor and internet culture. The short video reinforced that approach, showcasing Vance’s willingness to join the joke rather than fight it.
By Friday night, Vance’s Halloween post had surpassed 14 million views — a rare viral win for a sitting vice president.
For now, JD Vance has done what few politicians can: turned an online joke into a genuine moment of connection with the internet — and proven that even the vice president can laugh at himself, wig and all.
