15 Times J.D. Vance Was Incredibly Awkward On The Campaign Trail

Every politician has the inevitable gaffe or two during an election year. Unfortunately for J.D. Vance, he may have had the most this time around. From uncomfortably ordering donuts to very obviously misrepresenting the price of eggs, here are some of J.D. Vance's most awkward moments from the 2024 campaign trail:

1.He stood under a sign that said "Kamala Chaos," in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but the crowd blocked the "Chaos" portion of the sign, so it looked like he was campaigning for Kamala.

JD Vance speaks at a rally in Philadelphia with a "Kamala Chaos" banner behind him. Fox News ticker displays breaking news about JD Vance

2.Supporters in a rally crowd held up "You're Fired" signs at him in Atlanta, Georgia, making it seem like they wanted him gone.

JD Vance in a suit points into a crowd holding "You're Fired!" signs, supporting Donald Trump at a rally
John Bazemore / AP

3.He appeared completely unprepared to order donuts at a donut shop in Valdosta, Georgia, and ended up requesting "just whatever makes sense."

  WTXL / ABC / Via youtube.com
WTXL / ABC / Via youtube.com

4.When asked what made him smile in Shelby Township, Michigan, he replied, "Well, I smile at a lot of things, including bogus questions from the media, man."

He continued, “I mean, look, I think if you watch, if you watch a full speech that I give, I actually, I’m having a good time out here and I’m enjoying this. But, look, sometimes you got to take the good with the bad. And right now, I am angry about what Kamala Harris has done to this country and done to the American southern border.”

5.He held his dog's leash as though he'd never held a dog's leash before in his life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

  Chris Seward / AP
Chris Seward / AP

6.He claimed eggs cost $4 a dozen while standing in front of a sign that showed a dozen eggs could be purchased for $2.99 in Reading, Pennsylvania.

J.D. Vance in a grocery store speaks, stating,
J.D. Vance in a grocery store speaks, stating,
Egg cartons of extra-large and medium sizes displayed on store shelves, priced at $2.99 each
Egg cartons of extra-large and medium sizes displayed on store shelves, priced at $2.99 each

C-SPAN / Via youtube.com

7.He also asked the owners of that grocery store, "What are you guys known for? Is there, like, a particular customer who comes in here?" without realizing the answers are probably just "Food and people who eat food."

  C-SPAN / Via youtube.com
C-SPAN / Via youtube.com

8.He said at a rally in Sparta, Michigan, that he felt the "country never healed from the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.," who is currently very much alive and is in talks to have a position in a potential Trump administration.

  PBS News / Via youtube.com
PBS News / Via youtube.com

9.He asked the owner of a deli in Kenosha, Wisconsin, "You have any food here you really don’t like?" because he wanted to "feed it to the journalists on the plane."

  @reesejgorman / Via x.com

10.He referenced sleeping "on the couch" in Reno, Nevada after weeks of jokes about his erm...*affinity* for couches.

  WFAA / ABC News / Via youtube.com
WFAA / ABC News / Via youtube.com

11.During that same rally, he kept speaking even though it was clear that his mic had stopped working and he couldn't be heard at all.

Vance in a suit holding a microphone at a political rally with signs reading
Vance in a suit holding a microphone at a political rally with signs reading
Vance in suit speaking at a rally with people holding
Vance in suit speaking at a rally with people holding

WFAA / ABC News / Via youtube.com

12.The sign fell off the front of his podium in Peoria, Arizona, and he tried to play it off by saying, "Kamala Harris put that sign up."

Vance at a podium, surrounded by supporters wearing campaign attire, speaking at a political event in Peoria, AZ
Vance at a podium, surrounded by supporters wearing campaign attire, speaking at a political event in Peoria, AZ
Group of people at a rally with Vance at the podium
Group of people at a rally with Vance at the podium

C-SPAN / Via c-span.org

13.He approached Air Force Two on the tarmac in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, but after realizing Vice President Harris wasn't around, he told reporters, "I just wanted to check out my future plane."

A group of people in suits walking towards an airplane parked on a runway with stairs leading to the entrance
A group of people in suits walking towards an airplane parked on a runway with stairs leading to the entrance
A group of people in formal attire walking away from a passenger plane, smiling
A group of people in formal attire walking away from a passenger plane, smiling

Alex Brandon / AP

14.He attempted to make a joke in Middletown, Ohio, saying that Democrats think drinking Diet Mountain Dew is "racist," got a very small reaction from the audience, laughed at his own joke, and then said, "I love you guys."

  Washington Post / Via youtube.com
Washington Post / Via youtube.com

15.And finally, an honorable mention from last year before he became a vice presidential candidate: He shook hands with a fist-bump offered by Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur.

Four individuals stand outdoors near a
Four individuals stand outdoors near a
Two people are clasping hands in a friendly manner, one wearing a striped sleeve and the other a solid-colored sleeve. Their faces are not visible
Two people are clasping hands in a friendly manner, one wearing a striped sleeve and the other a solid-colored sleeve. Their faces are not visible

WTOL 11 / Via youtube.com

BRB — going to Dunkin' to order a donut normally and shake off the secondhand cringe. Also, I have to ask: Has anyone checked up on the infamous Scream Queen Howard Dean to see how he's feeling about his very tiny career-ending gaffe nowadays?