JD Vance, the Vice President of the United States, has unexpectedly become a viral sensation on the internet, with his face turning into the latest meme craze.
What started as a niche joke among social media users has quickly spiraled into a massive phenomenon, with Vance’s facial expressions being exaggerated and distorted in all kinds of humorous and bizarre ways.
From a Simple Joke to a Meme Frenzy
It all began after Vance’s heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last Friday.
During the meeting, Vance aggressively asked, “Have you said thank you once?” This moment, meant to be a serious political confrontation, became the perfect fuel for meme creators.
What was initially a parody of his intense questioning soon spiraled out of control, with internet users stretching his cheeks, shrinking his eyes, and placing him in outlandish pop culture references.
From a baby-faced cherub to an absurdly plump version of himself, the memes quickly gained traction.
The ‘Pwease Guy’ Meme Takes Over
One of the most popular versions of the meme features Vance saying, “You have to say pwease and tank you, Mistow Zensky,” which has led to him being called “the Pwease Guy” on social media.
The viral meme, based on Vance’s perceived petulance during the exchange, has taken on a life of its own, with some users joking that they’ve completely forgotten what the real JD Vance even looks like.
The memes have included surreal depictions of Vance as a Teletubby, a sentient lollipop, and even the Las Vegas Sphere.
JD Vance Reacts with Humor and Embraces the Memes
Despite the widespread meme craze, Vance has taken it all in stride.
According to journalist Julio Rosas, who traveled with him, Vance has seen many of the memes and finds the whole trend funny.
His relaxed reaction is seen as a smart move, as he understands that engaging too strongly with internet jokes would only escalate the situation.
At 40 years old, Vance is a millennial vice president who’s fluent in online culture, and his lack of objection to the memes has only fueled their popularity.
The Meme Unites Political Divides
What’s interesting about this meme trend is how it has managed to unite people across political lines.
While some left-leaning individuals mock Vance for his loyalty to Trump and his controversial stance on Ukraine, others on the right, especially within conservative meme circles, have embraced the trend as an ironic badge of honor.
This wide appeal showcases the power of internet culture in transcending political divisions.
Vance’s Meme Goes Beyond the Internet
The influence of Vance’s meme has even reached into the world of cryptocurrency, with one altered image of the Vice President being turned into a token.
At its peak, the token reached a market cap of $20 million, although its creators quickly distanced themselves from the trend due to the bizarre nature of the meme.
Despite the bizarre and somewhat unsettling side of it, some users take satisfaction in the fact that Vance is “terminally online” enough to have seen and reacted to these memes, proving that even the most serious political figures aren’t immune to the internet’s playful side.
Embracing the Meme Culture with a Smile
In the end, Vance’s reaction to the meme phenomenon shows that he understands the nature of internet culture.
By not reacting too strongly, he’s taken control of the narrative and turned the entire situation into something he can laugh about.
Whether it’s his exaggerated cheeks or the playful “Pwease Guy” persona, JD Vance has certainly become the latest meme sensation, and the internet seems to be enjoying every moment of it.