“JD Vance Depicting Himself as Trump’s Wife”: Thanksgiving Meme Sparks Controversy
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Republican Vice President-elect J.D. Vance faced backlash on Thanksgiving after posting a meme to social media that critics say “depicted himself as Donald Trump’s wife.” The Ohio senator shared the image on X, stirring heated reactions from across the political spectrum.
Vance began his Thanksgiving posts on a positive note, writing, “Thanksgiving everyone! Despite our challenges, we remain the greatest nation in the world, and I’m very grateful for it—and for all of you!” Hours later, he posted a meme with no caption, featuring a reimagined version of Norman Rockwell’s famous Thanksgiving painting.
In the altered image, Vance is depicted in the role of the wife, serving Donald Trump as the central figure at the dinner table. The response was swift. PatriotTakes, an organization that monitors right-wing extremism, reacted by highlighting the post, saying, “This is a real tweet from Vice President-elect JD Vance depicting himself as Trump’s wife.” They added, “It’s giving: ‘Time to carve up the country!’”
Critics from various fields weighed in with a mix of humor, confusion, and criticism. Journalist Helen Kennedy remarked, “Vance depicting himself in drag, as Trump’s wife.” Democratic strategist Mike Nellis admitted disbelief, posting, “I thought it was fake, but JD Vance really posted an image of him as Trump’s wife at Thanksgiving dinner. Incredible content—super weird.”
Theology writer Sharon Kuruvilla predicted the meme’s implications for Vance’s upcoming vice presidency, writing, “Going to be fascinating to see if Vance posts this s— as VP.” Others, like writer Polly Sigh, questioned the imagery: “Does Vance think he’s the First Lady? So weird.”
TV writer Steve Marmel poked fun, asking, “What bathroom does JD Vance get to use?” He further criticized the post, calling it a “cuckish photo of him and his daddy Trump.”
MSNBC commentator Mehdi Hasan added a political angle, highlighting the electoral context. “JD Vance posting an image of himself as Trump’s wife, and also with a map that doesn’t show people he and Trump won by one of the lowest margins in American history,” Hasan tweeted.
The meme has sparked widespread debate about its intention and tone, with critics viewing it as symbolic of Vance’s close alignment with Trump. As Vance transitions into the vice presidency, his social media posts are likely to remain a focal point for both supporters and detractors.
