JD Vance Tries to Steal Donald Trump’s Spotlight — But His Big Moment Backfires When Viewers Catch the Awkward Detail He Somehow Missed

Vice President JD Vance tried to get a few laughs during a speech in Maine on Monday, August 24, but his joke ended up getting far more attention online than he probably expected.

Vance was speaking at a manufacturing facility in Brewer when he decided to make a light-hearted comment about men with beards. During his remarks, he recognised the plant’s maintenance manager, Jamie Beers, before saying, “I hate good-looking guys with beards because they make me feel jealous.”

The people inside the room laughed at the comment, but the reaction was very different once the video began spreading online.

Social media users quickly noticed an awkward detail. Vance was making fun of good-looking men with beards while he has been wearing a beard himself for years.

His facial hair has actually become one of the most talked-about parts of his appearance. When former President Donald Trump chose Vance as his running mate in 2024, Vance became the first man with a full beard to appear on a major-party presidential ticket in more than a century.

That made the joke even more amusing to some people online.

But the beard was not the only thing people were talking about. Many critics also believed Vance was once again trying to copy Trump’s way of speaking and joking.

Trump has become well known for making unusual comments about people’s appearances, including other men. Earlier this month, Trump spoke about 22-year-old speedskater Jordan Stolz during a White House reception for Team USA.

Trump praised the athlete’s build and focused on his legs, calling them very strong before asking how he could get legs like Stolz’s.

Trump has also commented directly on Vance’s appearance. In April, he said Vance had become thinner and described him as a “perfect-looking specimen.”

Because Trump has repeatedly talked about the appearance of other men, some people online saw Vance’s latest joke as another attempt to follow the president’s style.

Some social media users accused Vance of copying Trump’s jokes and mannerisms. Others said he appeared to be trying too hard to sound like the president.

The criticism did not stop there. Some people focused on Vance’s delivery and said the joke did not sound natural. They argued that while Trump often makes comments about people’s appearance, Vance does not have the same style or delivery when he tries to do something similar.

One person described Vance as “cringy” and said he struggled to tell the joke properly. Another said he appeared to be trying to create a version of Trump’s personality with a more negative tone.

Others simply found the whole situation strange because Vance himself has a beard.

The latest controversy is also part of a bigger pattern surrounding Vance’s attempts at humour this year.

He has faced criticism over several jokes and comments, including an attempt at a Wisconsin accent in July. He has also been criticised for comments about a columnist’s weight, with some people again accusing him of trying to use Trump-style humour.

Another joke about Democrats controlling the lights also failed to impress many people online. Instead of becoming a funny moment, it led to another round of criticism from people who believed Vance was borrowing from Trump’s political style.

Vance has often presented himself as one of Trump’s strongest supporters and has adopted many parts of the president’s political approach. However, critics say his attempts to copy Trump’s humour and personality do not always work.

The latest beard comment quickly became another example for those critics.

There was also a deeper point raised by some people online. They noted that both Trump and Vance have recently spent a surprising amount of time commenting on how other men look.

Vance: I hate good-looking guys with beards because they make me feel jealous pic.twitter.com/sCo54z1rdZ— Acyn (@Acyn) August 24, 2026

For Vance, the joke was probably meant to be nothing more than a quick comment to make the audience laugh. Instead, the video spread online and gave people another opportunity to discuss his relationship with Trump and his efforts to build a similar public image.

Vance has not publicly explained the comment or responded to the criticism surrounding it. The White House has also not issued a response.

For now, what was supposed to be a simple joke about beards has turned into another viral moment for the vice president, with critics once again asking whether Vance is becoming too focused on copying Trump’s style.