This Is Why The Internet Is Convinced JD Vance Wears Eyeliner

Since JD Vance was selected as Donald Trump's running mate for the 2024 presidential election, the Internet has had a lot to say about the Ohio senator.

In a matter of a few weeks, the 39-year-old potential vice president went from being a best-selling author to a Peasant Elegy one of the lowest-polled non-incumbent vice presidential candidates since 1980. As with many things these days, much of Vance's net negative rating has to do with social media.

For those unaware, Vance recently sparked a firestorm on social media for past comments he made about Vice President Kamala Harris, in which he described her as a “childless” cat lover. His comments resurfaced, which he made during a 2021 interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Fox News Host Tucker Carlson has received negative criticism from Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston and childless people around the world.

But that wasn't the only Vance-related topic of conversation that went viral on the Internet. While the strangest rumor to have spread about Vance apparently involves a couch, some Internet sleuths are most baffled by Vance's appearance, particularly when it comes to his distinctive blue eyes.

On platforms like X, formerly Twitter, many social media users are wondering if Vance uses eyeliner to enhance his bright blue eyes. The speculation appears to have started just two weeks ago, when journalist James Surowiecki quoted a clip of Vance from a September 2021 video interview on Twitter.

“Why does JD Vance always look like he’s wearing eyeliner?” Surowiecki wrote alongside the video, adding, “He doesn’t really look like the goth type of guy.”

Unsurprisingly, this prompted thousands of social media users to share photos of Vance from previous TV appearances, zooming in on what appeared to be a black spot accentuating his waterline.

“I only have one pressing political question on my mind tonight: why does JD Vance wear so much eyeliner?” one person asked on X, while another user joked: “I think it’s funny that JD Vance thought all his problems could be solved with contour and a little eyeliner.”

“I’ve been saying JD Vance wears eyeliner since he was elected. I’m so happy someone else sees it!” another person posted.

Meanwhile, photojournalist Zach D Roberts shared his own photo of Vance taken during a recent conference, in which a black line was clearly visible beneath his lower lashes. “I really thought people were joking about this, but then I photographed it last week. Vance is 100 percent wearing eyeliner,” Roberts wrote in the post.

On TikTok, one woman even claimed to have found Vance’s exact eyeliner shade. “This is a flippant political comment but I can’t stop thinking about it,” said user Casey (@mamasissiesays) in a recent video with over 300,000 views. “Does JD Vance wear eyeliner?”

Comparing images of Vance’s public appearances to his official Senate portrait, Casey admitted he had doubts. “There’s no eyeliner here. This is a man who doesn’t wear eyeliner,” he said of his Senate portrait. Sharing a photo from Vance’s TV interview, however, Casey said: “There’s obviously something going on here … along with some contouring. I’d love to know the shade of it.”

She then jokingly claimed that she had found Vance's favorite eyeliner pencil, from the brand Urban Decay, in the shade “Desperation.”

Speculation grew so high that it also prompted comedian Jimmy Fallon to poke fun at Vance's alleged affinity for eyeliner on an episode of Tonight's show starring Jimmy FallonDuring the July 22 broadcast, Fallon showed an image of a graph increasing along its x-axis, along with the mocking tagline: “Google search: ‘Does JD Vance wear eyeliner?'”

The late-night talk show host then showed a photo of Vance, which again showed a distinctive black line under his eyes.

Vance may wear eyeliner for live events and TV ads, just as many public figures use makeup to enhance their appearance on camera. However, the reason so many people online can't stop talking about Vance's rumored makeup is because it's “hypocritical” given the Republican's staunch anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs.

“We think it’s okay for men to wear makeup, but we don’t think it’s okay for hypocrites to make policies, harmful policies, against men who wear makeup,” Casey said in her viral TikTok video.

The Ohio senator has introduced bills proposing to limit access to health care for transgender people and limit the ability to mark additional gender identities on U.S. passports. Vance also grilled several State Department nominees with a questionnaire about LGBTQ+ rights, Pride flags, diversity and inclusion, and other so-called “conscientious” topics, ultimately delaying the confirmation of more than 30 diplomats for senior posts until last April.

Vance is known for his traditional views on gender, though he may wear eyeliner. His pro-natalist stance has led him to describe declining birth rates as a “crisis of civilization” driven by a “childless left.” Vance has also argued that people with children should have “more power” at the ballot box and claimed that Kamala Harris “doesn’t actually have a direct stake” in the future of the country because she didn’t give birth to her two stepchildren.

While there's nothing wrong with men wearing makeup, perhaps the internet is so obsessed with Vance's alleged eyeliner because it goes against the views he's espoused throughout his political career. However, it's unclear exactly how long his position as Trump's running mate will last, as Republicans themselves are now undecided about their support for Vance.

The Independent has contacted Vance's representatives for comment.