Kathrine Frich
Many wondered why he chose to bring up getting drinks with a rival.
Political rallies usually run on a familiar script of policy promises and crowd-pleasing slogans.
But sometimes a speaker goes completely off script to try and land a joke. When those unscripted moments fall flat, the internet is always watching.
Back in his hometown
Vice President JD Vance returned to his hometown of Lima, Ohio, on Friday. He spoke to supporters at the local airport.
The campaign visit was designed to focus on local issues. He traveled to the event with his family watching close by.
But one specific comment caught the attention of social media users. Vance brought up a high-profile Democratic rival.
He mentioned Amy Acton, the former director of the Ohio Department of Health. She is running for Ohio governor against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.
An awkward promise
During his speech, Vance told the crowd he made a personal promise to the Democratic candidate.
“I did promise Amy that I would meet her at a bar later. I understand she’s into that sort of thing, so I’m gonna try to get to know her,” he said to the audience according to the Irish Star.
The joke was met with awkward silence. Journalist Aaron Rupar shared the video clip online, where it quickly sparked a fierce reaction.
Quick online backlash
Viewers were quick to criticize the unexpected remark. Many wondered why he chose to bring up getting drinks with a rival.
“JD announcing drinks with Amy while she’s running against Vivek is either the most awkward flirting I’ve ever witnessed or the cheapest opposition research operation in American history,” one person observed.
Other commenters were much harsher in their assessments. One person called the vice president “the most repulsive man in America,” according to US media reports.
Pushing policy goals
Away from the awkward joke, Vance used the rest of his speech to boost Ramaswamy. He focused heavily on manufacturing and border control.
“If you’re sending American jobs overseas, if you’re trying to ship your factory to a foreign corporation, or you’re trying to replace American workers with illegal immigrants later, you know what? You’re going to get a big fat tariff for her to penalize you for going to war with Americans,” Vance said.
He also praised his administration’s approach to border security. “Never before has a President of the United States not just closed the border, but actually gotten millions of illegal criminals out of the United States of America. Never before has that happened,” he added.
