Additional Coverage:
- JD Vance, who’s totally not mad about being called ‘weird,’ says he’s just a ‘normal guy’ who plans to wear the label like a badge of honor (newsbreak.com)
At a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Senator JD Vance, the Republican Vice Presidential candidate, addressed the ongoing criticism of his and the GOP campaign’s image as “weird,” a characterization frequently mentioned by Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Governor Tim Walz. During an interaction with reporters at Eau Claire airport in Wisconsin, Vance attributed the label to the influence of young social media workers who had personal grievances from their school days.
Vance vehemently dismissed the idea that there is anything unusual about him or his campaign, portraying himself as a relatable family man aspiring to live the American dream. He further commented on the controversy by stating his intent to proudly adopt the “weird” label as a “badge of honor.”
The term has not only been voiced by Harris and Walz but has also appeared in several of Harris’ campaign communications. Both Democratic figures have openly criticized the rhetoric and positions of Vance and former President Donald Trump, with Walz explicitly calling the Republican rhetoric peculiar and unsuitable.
Despite the repeated use of the term by his opponents, Vance’s team had not provided immediate responses to the commentary. The ongoing exchanges highlight the heated and personal nature of the political discourse in the lead-up to the election.