JD Vance, the Ohio senator and Vice President-elect, has sparked controversy with a Thanksgiving meme that features him and Donald Trump as a married couple. The image is a parody of Norman Rockwell’s famous 1940s painting “Freedom From Want,” which originally depicted a large family gathering for the holiday meal. In the altered version, Vance’s head is superimposed over the female figure, with Trump’s head replacing the male figure at the head of the table. Instead of a turkey, the pair are holding a map of the United States, with areas in red indicating parts of the country that voted for the GOP ticket in the 2024 election.
Progressive journalist Mehdi Hasan criticized Vance’s post, pointing out that Trump’s 2024 election victory was by one of the lowest margins in American history. Trump won 312 Electoral College votes, but his margin of victory was only 1.6 points, the smallest since George W. Bush’s in 2000.
Trump also shared a Thanksgiving meme on his Truth Social platform, featuring edited video of Democratic leaders appearing to eat a turkey before he bursts out of the bird, dancing to the Village People’s song “YMCA.” Trump has described his election victory as a “landslide” and has thanked his supporters for their role in making it possible.
Vance’s post was met with a mixed response, with some people praising the meme and others criticizing it for its perceived mocking of the democratic process. Elon Musk, who will be joining Trump’s next Cabinet, posted a laughing emoji in response to the meme, while Trump himself has not commented on the controversy.