During a lively stop in Pennsylvania, Vice President JD Vance didn’t hold back as he cracked jokes, leaned into football analogies, and took a few sharp digs at the New York Times and the Biden administration.
At the heart of it all? An op-ed that sparked laughter both online and off.
Border Op-Ed Becomes Prime Roast Material
Vance got the crowd chuckling when he read aloud the headline of a recent New York Times op-ed written by Blas Nuñez-Neto, a former border policy adviser in President Biden’s administration.
The headline read: “I Was One of Biden’s Border Advisers. Here’s How to Fix Our Immigration System.”
Vance couldn’t help but laugh—and neither could his audience.
“We’ve been having a little fun with that around the office,” he joked, adding that the internet had already taken things to the next level.
The Internet’s Snarky Spin on the Headline
The online response? Pure internet comedy.
One viral post mimicked the format with: “I was Humpty Dumpty. Here’s how to sit on a wall.”
Another user chimed in: “I was the captain of the Titanic.
Here’s how to steer an ocean liner across the North Atlantic at night.”
Even Kamala Harris’s campaign got roped in: “I was one of Kamala’s campaign advisers.
Here’s how to win the presidential election.”
Vance admitted his favorite dig came from a friend who took a jab at his beloved football team: “I’m a Cincinnati Bengals player.
Here’s how you win Super Bowls.” That one, Vance laughed, “cut a little deep.”
A Little Football Pain Hits Home
For context, Vance is a long-suffering Bengals fan—an NFL team that’s made it to the Super Bowl three times, but never taken home the trophy.
That joke struck a nerve, but he took it in stride, calling it “not cool” but still funny for fellow football fans.
Touting Trump-Era Border Wins
Vance didn’t stop at jokes. He used the rally to point out what he views as a major Trump-era achievement—tightening control over the southern border.
He cited recent data from Customs and Border Protection, which showed just 6,072 illegal crossings recorded in June—marking the lowest monthly figure ever documented.
Vance added that, unlike the Biden years, there were no migrant releases into the U.S. during that same month.
He contrasted those numbers with data from June 2024, when over 27,000 people had been released into the country under Biden’s watch.
Pushing Back on Democratic Criticism Over Tariffs
Vance also defended the Trump administration’s economic stance—particularly its support of tariffs on imported goods.
“Democrats act like it’s outrageous that Trump puts tariffs on countries trying to dump junk in America,” he said.
But for Vance, it’s not only justified—it’s a core part of the agenda.
He explained that the plan is simple: if you manufacture in the U.S., you’ll be supported.
But if you take jobs overseas and try to sell back in America, “you’re going to pay a big fat tariff.”
A Casual Diner Stop to Wrap Up the Day
After the event, JD and Usha Vance made a stop at the Majestic Lunch diner in Pittston, Pennsylvania.
There, they chatted with locals about everything from politics to—of course—football.
It was a day full of laughs, policy punches, and a little home team heartbreak.
