JD Vance Mocks Democrats’ January 6 Vigil in Trump Style  But Netizens Turn the Joke on Him

The fifth anniversary of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol has once again sparked intense debate online. The situation became even more heated after Donald Trump launched a public website that many critics say tries to rewrite what really happened that day. The site portrays the people who stormed the Capitol as peaceful protesters who were treated unfairly, rather than as rioters who broke the law.

In response, Democrats pushed back hard. They pointed to the findings of the January 6 Select Committee, which concluded that Trump encouraged the events that led to the attack. They also stressed that Trump’s decision to pardon some of those involved was wrong, arguing there is clear evidence that serious crimes were committed.

To mark the anniversary, several senior Democrats held a quiet candlelight vigil and shared images and videos of the event on X. The gathering was meant to remember those who lost their lives during the violence at the Capitol and to honor the law enforcement officers who were killed or later died after defending the building. Among those present were Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, along with other Democratic figures.

While many people saw the vigil as a moment of respect and remembrance, it quickly became the target of mockery from US Vice President JD Vance. Taking a page from Trump’s familiar style, Vance shared a photoshopped image of Democratic leaders at the vigil. In the altered image, only their heads were visible, and they were shown wearing sombreros, clearly meant as a joke at their expense.

Instead of landing as humor, the post triggered a wave of backlash. Social media users accused Vance of being insensitive and disrespectful, especially given the loss of life connected to January 6. Many commenters said the post showed how political leaders sometimes turn serious events into cheap jokes for attention.

The replies under Vance’s post were filled with anger and criticism. Some people accused him of putting on a political performance rather than showing empathy.

One commenter said he was trying to distract from bigger issues by attacking Democrats again, claiming voters were already tired of what they called dishonesty and empty rhetoric. Another user bluntly called him “a really bad Christian,” suggesting his actions didn’t match the values he often claims to hold.

Others focused on the human cost of the Capitol attack. Several comments pointed out that police officers were beaten during the riot and that some later died as a result. One user wrote that it was disturbing for a vice president to find humor in violence against officers doing their jobs.

There were also accusations that the image played into racist stereotypes, with one commenter questioning how Vance’s actions would be explained to his children, given his wife’s background.

Despite the outrage, not everyone disagreed with him. A noticeable number of users defended the post, arguing it was just satire or free speech and that Democrats should be able to take a joke. This split reaction only added fuel to an already polarized online debate.

This incident is not new territory for either Vance or Trump. Both men have a history of sharing edited or fake images online to mock political opponents. In fact, Trump himself started the sombrero theme last year when he posted a deepfake image of Jeffries and Schumer wearing sombreros and fake moustaches.

At the time, it was Vance who downplayed the controversy, saying Trump was simply joking and that it was possible to make fun of Democrats while still negotiating and governing seriously.

Now, with Vance in the spotlight, that same style of humor is being judged much more harshly. For many Americans, January 6 remains a painful and serious moment in the country’s history, and attempts to joke about it—especially from those in power—continue to provoke strong reactions on both sides of the political divide.