Vice President JD Vance came to Michigan to campaign against Abdul El-Sayed, the former public health official turned Democratic Senate candidate — but El-Sayed had other plans.
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At a campaign event on Monday, El-Sayed seized his moment during a press conference to hit back at his rival, former Rep. Mike Rogers, for inviting Vance to campaign with him — triggering stifled laughter from behind him, and an explosive reaction on social media.
“Why would you invite JD Vance except for maybe you’ve got a Vance Bromance?” said El-Sayed. “I don’t know, questions about JD Vance are legion. We don’t have more couches here than they have in Ohio. So I’m just trying to figure out why he would come.”
The couch comment refers to an unfounded, viral internet rumor during the 2024 election that Vance performed intimate acts with a couch. It’s a frequent point of mockery lobbed at the vice president from Democratic figures — and it got an instant reaction online.
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“AHHHHHHHH,” wrote political YouTuber Jack Cocchiarella.
“Bonus points to [Congresswoman and primary opponent turned surrogate] Mallory McMorrow for stifling the laugh,” wrote podcaster Hemant Mehta.
“Mallory McMorrow’s expression after making the couch joke is priceless,” wrote Eric Michael Garcia, the D.C. bureau chief for The Independent.
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Alex Cole of the Newsitics site simply posted three laughing emojis.
