Vice President-elect JD Vance made waves this Thanksgiving with a meme that humorously portrays him as the “wife” of Donald Trump. This quirky post, shared on X (formerly Twitter), quickly caught attention for its playful twist on a classic American image. It shows Vance’s head superimposed on the figure of a matriarch in Norman Rockwell's iconic 1940s painting Freedom From Want. The image is one of four in Rockwell's famous Four Freedoms series, which was inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union address.
In the meme, Vance takes on the role of the grandmotherly figure, while Trump's face replaces the patriarch’s at the head of the table. But there's a modern twist: Instead of holding a turkey, the two figures are holding a U.S. map. This map, however, doesn’t display the usual Thanksgiving bounty—it shows red areas, representing parts of the country that supported the GOP ticket in the 2024 election. The map seems to be a not-so-subtle nod to the political landscape of the country after a highly contested race.
Progressive journalist Mehdi Hasan was quick to share the image, offering a witty take: “JD Vance posting an image of himself as Trump’s wife, and also with a map that doesn’t show people he and Trump won by one of the lowest margins in American history.” His comment underscores the controversial nature of the meme and its playful jab at the election results.
Vance and Trump’s 2024 win has sparked considerable debate. Trump triumphed in all seven of the critical battleground states, ultimately clinching 312 Electoral College votes. He also won the popular vote over Vice President Kamala Harris by more than 2 million votes, securing a victory that some observers described as resounding. However, others, including Hasan, point out that Trump’s victory margin in several key states was among the narrowest in modern American history.
In contrast to the meme's lighthearted tone, Trump himself also got in on the Thanksgiving festivities with a more traditional message. His post, which was shared on Truth Social, included a Thanksgiving-themed meme where several prominent Democratic figures—President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her husband Doug Emhoff—are preparing to enjoy a Thanksgiving turkey. However, in a classic Trump move, the fun doesn’t stop there: He bursts out of the turkey itself, dancing to the Village People’s YMCA in a humorous, larger-than-life moment that felt both fitting and absurd.
Despite the playful memes, both Trump and Vance had more earnest reflections to share as well. Vance, in a separate post, offered a heartfelt message of gratitude: “Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Despite our challenges, we remain the greatest nation in the world, and I’m very grateful for it—and for all of you.” This statement was a nod to the ongoing challenges faced by the nation, tempered with a message of hope and patriotism.
Meanwhile, in a typical show of support for the Republican agenda, tech mogul Elon Musk—who will join Trump's Cabinet in the new Department of Government Efficiency—joined in the fun by responding to Vance’s meme with a laughing emoji. Musk's lighthearted engagement with Vance’s post further fueled the viral nature of the meme.
Trump’s own Thanksgiving message, shared on Truth Social, took on a more combative tone, reflecting his consistent “America First” rhetoric. In the post, Trump called his 2024 election win a "landslide victory," despite the narrow margin. “Happy Thanksgiving to all, including to the Radical Left Lunatics who have worked so hard to destroy our country but who have miserably failed and will always fail, because their ideas and policies are so hopelessly bad that the great people of our nation just gave a landslide victory to those who want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” he wrote. The message was part of his ongoing narrative about the failure of progressive policies and the rise of his own vision for America’s future.
Trump’s message was also sprinkled with his signature optimism about America’s future: "Don't worry, our country will soon be respected, productive, fair, and strong, and you will be, more than ever before, proud to be an American." As always, Trump’s posts continue to resonate deeply with his supporters, even as they spark strong reactions from critics.
The meme shared by Vance and the Thanksgiving messages from both Vance and Trump come at a time when political tensions are high. The 2024 election marked a pivotal moment in American history, with political polarization and intense debates around key issues such as the economy, immigration, and national security. For Trump, the win, though narrow in many critical areas, solidified his position as the leader of the Republican Party and the face of its future. For Vance, it was an opportunity to showcase his alliance with Trump and inject humor into a traditionally serious occasion.
The Thanksgiving meme was, in many ways, a microcosm of the broader political landscape: a blend of humor, strategy, and sharp political commentary. It reflects how humor and memes have become a key tool in the arsenal of modern politicians. While the image was certainly a lighthearted moment, it also underscored the deep ties between Vance and Trump—ties that will no doubt play a central role as the pair continues to navigate the political terrain together.
As we reflect on these Thanksgiving messages, it’s clear that both Vance and Trump are positioning themselves as key figures in shaping the future of American politics. Whether through memes or more traditional statements, they’re sending a clear message to their supporters: despite the challenges, the fight for America’s future is far from over.
In conclusion, the Thanksgiving memes shared by JD Vance and Donald Trump may have been playful in tone, but they were also powerful political statements. Vance’s self-deprecating meme, Trump’s combative post, and the humor shared by figures like Elon Musk all highlight the unique ways in which modern politics is shaped by social media and viral moments. For the Republican Party, these kinds of posts provide a way to engage with voters in a fun and relatable way—while still pushing forward their core messages of patriotism, nationalism, and traditional American values. Whether it’s through a Thanksgiving turkey or a meme, one thing is clear: in the world of modern politics, humor is a tool that can’t be ignored.
Login