Vice President JD Vance is making headlines for his lack of charisma again. On July 1, Vance made fun of Former President Joe Biden in a way that sounded very much inspired by his boss. But his “joke” didn’t land, sparking widespread criticism on social media for several different reasons.
Vance was addressing American troops at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach when he made a comment about Biden falling down the stairs. Vance seemed to know that he should’ve remained nonpartisan during his speech, and yet, he couldn’t resist the temptation to mock a former president who is twice his age.
Much like Trump, Vance said he would be in the news if he stumbled on the stairs.
JD Vance attempts to tell a joke at Biden's expense to the troops — and gets absolutely zero reaction 😬 pic.twitter.com/kJBcsiZvTS
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 1, 2026
Vance claimed that “the media didn’t care” when Biden fell. But if the same thing were to happen to him, he said it would definitely be a “major story.” On social media, some critics pointed out that there’s a reason for that: Biden is 83 years old. Vance is 41.
Obviously, President Donald Trump compares himself to Biden all the time, and has also made comments about walking down the stairs carefully to avoid being like Biden. People still find it problematic when Trump boasts about being better at signing things or walking down the stairs than Biden was, but at least the two men are around the same age, so the comparisons make a bit more sense.
But that’s not the only reason Vance’s “joke” didn’t land.
Bro is on a streak for the most embarrassing a man has been on stage consecutively https://t.co/K9yrm53pht
— J. J. Ellis (@jjellisart) July 1, 2026
People also just weren’t sure where the punchline was. Video footage shared via X made it seem like the individuals listening to Vance’s speech in real life were not amused either.
“You know what I’m thinking as I’m coming down the steps is, ‘don’t fall and bust your a–’ in front of you and all these cameras because they would never let me live that one down,” Vance said.
“You know, the previous president — I’m trying to be nonpartisan,” he continued. “You ever see these old cartoons where you got the angel on the shoulder and the devil on the shoulder?”
Apparently, he chose to listen to the devil on his shoulder.
Hard watch, honestly. https://t.co/qiOtaA5NxR
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) July 1, 2026
“Well, because I’m speaking to all of you … I’ve got the angel on my shoulder saying, ‘JD, don’t be partisan. We’re gonna make this nonpartisan.’ And then I’ve got the devil on my shoulder who wants to talk about every time that Joe Biden fell up or down the stairs, and the media didn’t care about that,” Vance explained. “But if I did it one time .. it would be a major, major story.” OK?
In the comments on X, people listed several things that have more charisma than Vance: for example, a rock, a doorknob, and house slippers. Oof.
“JD Vance reaches levels of cringe that should be studied,” one critic commented.
People also accused him of trying to copy Trump and said it isn’t working.
Oh my God he’s trying to do a Trump impression https://t.co/x5lSeNNjjX
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) July 1, 2026
Critics don’t think he’s very good at it. “Was that like a half a– Trump impression he was trying to do?” someone questioned. Another critic wrote, “He’s trying to be Trump. As much as Trump is annoying and horrible, JD is even worse.”
The clip made some critics feel like Vance was “testing out a new personality.” However, they encouraged him to develop his own instead of just mimicking his boss. “Trump can actually land a joke,” a commenter wrote. “You need to figure out how to just be yourself.”
One person in the comments said Vance is “never funny and is always inappropriate and cringy, while another commenter concluded, “A Vice President making fun of a former President is so gross.”
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