People wait for the start of a Turning Point USA event with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at Akins Ford Arena at the Classic Center on April 14, 2026 in Athens, Georgia, U.S., Chip Somodevilla/Pool via REUTERS
Vice President JD Vance was brutally mocked after he spoke to a small crowd at the University of Georgia during a Turning Point USA rally on Tuesday.
Vance was scheduled to appear alongside Erika Kirk, the widow of late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who pulled out just hours before the doors opened due to unspecified "threats." The event was held at a time when the Trump administration and the Republican Party are growing anxious about the 2026 midterms as Democrats continue to notch election wins across the country.
At the event on Tuesday, MS NOW reporter Jake Traylor noted on X that TPUSA seemed to "overestimate" attendance, as several seats remained open while Vance spoke. He shared a video of the arena as well.
Political analysts and observers mocked the video on social media.
"The JD Vance humiliation tour continues," political commentator Molly Jong-Fast posted on X.
"Reminds me of the Trump Tulsa rally in June 2020 right in the middle of COVID," photojournalist Justin Fleenor posted on Bluesky. "Tens of people!"
"Looks like Stegeman after Mike White's squad goes down 30 points at half," political communications expert Joel Mendelson posted on Bluesky.
"Lol Go Dawgs," Steven Godfrey, founder of Falcon Scott Productions, posted on Bluesky.
Turning Point USA seems to have misestimated crowd size for Vance. Akins Ford Arena less than 25% filled for the vice president. pic.twitter.com/K2SnkmuATh
— Jake Traylor (@jake__traylor) April 14, 2026