Vice President JD Vance sparked controversy during Wednesday's "Make America Healthy Again" event when he praised what many are calling a racially insensitive joke made by President Donald Trump.
Health Event Takes Unexpected Turn
During a live discussion with Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Vance was asked to name the funniest member of President Trump's cabinet. The conversation quickly shifted from health policy to presidential humor when Vance singled out Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the "funniest outside of the president" before launching into an analysis of Trump's comedic style.
The vice president specifically highlighted Trump's recent meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa as an example of what he called "amazing comedic timing." The incident occurred during an Oval Office meeting on Monday where Trump spritzed the Syrian leader with Trump-branded cologne before asking him "how many wives" he has.
Viral Clip Sparks Outrage
When al-Sharaa responded "One," Trump quipped: "With you guys, I never know." The exchange, captured on video, has since gone viral across social media platforms.
"I don't know if you saw this video circulating on social media, but the president met the president of Syria, al-Sharaa, in the Oval Office a couple of days ago," Vance told Kennedy during the event. "And, you know, he asked him, he was like, 'Well how many wives do you have?'"
Vance and much of the audience began giggling as he recounted the story. He described Trump's question as having "layers" and "meta-humor," calling it an example of the president's sophisticated comedic sensibilities.
Social Media Backlash Intensifies
The praise for what many perceive as a racist stereotype drew immediate criticism on social media platform X. Users quickly pointed out the problematic nature of both the original joke and Vance's endorsement.
One X user noted: "Trump thinks if you're a Muslim man you have multiple wives," highlighting the stereotype underlying the president's question.
Another commenter observed: "His 'How many wives do you have' question is just another example of how trump views women as property."
The reaction was even more blunt from other critics, with one user simply stating: "Jesus, what an asshole."
This isn't the first time Vance has faced criticism for offensive remarks. In April, he drew condemnation for dehumanizing comments about Chinese people, casually referring to them as "peasants" during a public appearance.
The incident raises questions about the intersection of political leadership, cultural sensitivity, and humor in American politics, particularly during an event ostensibly focused on health policy rather than comedy analysis.
