Vice President JD Vance pulled off one of the most talked-about Halloween costumes in recent political memory—by dressing up as a meme of himself. Embracing internet culture head-on, Vance transformed into the viral “Fat JD” meme that’s been circulating for months, turning what some critics may have seen as ridicule into a clever and self-aware moment of humor.
In a short video posted to social media, Vance appeared in costume wearing a curly brown wig, imitating the exaggerated look of the meme version of himself. Standing at the door of the Vice President’s residence, he greeted trick-or-treaters with a smile and a nod to the meme’s infamous tone: “Happy Halloween, kids — and remember, say thank you.” What followed was a playful shot of him spinning dramatically in front of a backdrop, reminiscent of the Twilight Zone intro—perfectly in line with the surreal nature of internet meme culture.
The original “Fat JD” meme stemmed from a moment earlier this year when Vance confronted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a tense White House meeting. Internet users took still images from the encounter, exaggerated his features, and captioned them with lines like, “You didn’t say thank you,” mocking Vance’s stern tone. Rather than run from the meme, Vance embraced it—and in doing so, went massively viral.
The Halloween video quickly caught fire online, racking up millions of views and hundreds of thousands of likes across platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook. MAGA supporters and meme creators alike applauded Vance for having a sense of humor and showing he could laugh at himself while remaining politically sharp.
By turning the meme into a moment, JD Vance not only defused criticism but demonstrated how cultural savvy can become political capital.
