Photos of Ohio Senator JD Vance dressed in drag have recently surfaced online, sparking a flurry of controversy and discussion.
The images, reportedly taken at a Halloween party in 2012 during Vance’s time at Yale Law School, depict the senator in a yellow wig and skirt, striking a pose. The photos were leaked by a former classmate and quickly went viral on social media, reigniting debates over the intersection of personal history and political rhetoric.
The release of the photos has added a new layer of complexity to Vance’s public image, and generated speculation and criticism about the Republican vice-presidential candidate. While Vance’s spokesperson has not denied the authenticity of the photos, they have chosen not to comment further, leaving the public to draw their own conclusions and create memes about it.
Across X and Instagram, users have utilized their humor and artificial intelligence to create images of Vance in more elaborate costumes. Some had images of a bearded Vance in a Marie Antoinette-style outfit surrounded by cats. Others used the original 2012 photo to create doctored videos of Vance dancing in drag.
Social media users have also speculated Vance uses eyeliner as a part of his regular routine. Particularly on X, users have started to speculate about the senator’s alleged use of eye makeup to accentuate his blue eyes.
“Why does JD Vance always look like he’s wearing eyeliner?” journalist James Surowiecki asked. “He doesn’t really seem like the goth-boy type.”
This prompted thousands of people to share photos of Vance, focusing on what appears to be a black smudge on his waterline. One user wrote “I’ve been saying JD Vance wears eyeliner since he got elected, I’m so damn happy someone else sees it!!!”
Another posted: “There is only one urgent political question on my mind tonight. Why does JD Vance wear so much eyeliner?”
Photojournalist Zach D Roberts shared his own photo of Vance and claimed he “100 percent” does his makeup.
“I really thought people were joking about this, but then I photographed him last week. Vance 100 percent does wear eyeliner,” he said.
Vance, who is a vocal opponent of LGBTQ+ rights and an advocate for legislation targeting drag performances, is now facing accusations of hypocrisy. Critics have pointed out the contradiction between his choice to wear “drag” and (allegedly) eyeliner with his current stance against the LGBTQ+ community, especially given his support for legislation that seeks to restrict drag performances and gender-affirming care.
Last year, Vance introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate banning gender-affirming care for folks under 18 at the federal level, as well as making care difficult for transgender adults to obtain.
Vance expressed his support for many “Don’t Say Gay” laws, which bar conversations surrounding sexual orientation and gender identities in schools, writing, “I’ll stop calling people ‘groomers’ when they stop freaking out about bills that prevent the sexualization of my children.” He also spoke out against protections for LGBTQ+ people facing discrimination and opposed the Equality Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity in federal anti-discrimination laws.