During a Republican event in Lima, Ohio, US Vice President J.D. Vance made headlines by flipping his middle finger while addressing the audience, using the gesture to poke fun at Washington’s political climate and critics of Republican candidates.
Speaking lightheartedly about the challenges of campaigning, Vance joked, “I know it’s not always easy to be a political candidate, trust me. And in Washington, DC they have this thing where — I think it means ‘we’re number one in Washington, DC’ – but all the pink-haired people throw up this sign,” before raising his middle finger, drawing loud laughter from the crowd.
Vance, now the second-highest-ranking official in the US government, added on a more serious note, “Sometimes this job of politics is inspiring, and sometimes it’s hard work.” He encouraged future leaders to embrace the struggle, emphasizing the value of public service in building a better future.
The vice president’s gesture comes just days after President Donald Trump stirred controversy by using profanity during remarks about the Israeli-Iranian ceasefire, reflecting the administration’s increasingly blunt rhetoric amid global tensions.
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U.S. Vice President JD Vance made a controversial gesture—raising his middle finger—while mocking left-wing individuals during a Republican Party dinner in Lima, Ohio. He referenced a cultural expression in Washington, D.C., sarcastically suggesting that people with pink hair… pic.twitter.com/iePFtTun0I
— The Tradesman (@The_Tradesman1) June 25, 2025
