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Eyeliner, Male Privilege & Misogyny: JD Vance's Toxic Masculinity & Dismissal of Women.

Far-right conspiracy theories distract from the real issues: working Americans. This attempted smear campaign on VP hopeful JD Vance is a coordinated MAGA tactic to sway working-class voters ahead of the midterms.

Published August 5, 2024 at 9:30pm by Victoria Moorwood

Here's what we know, and don't know, about some of the most viral right-wingnut talking points about JD Vance

Did JD Vance write about having sex with a couch in 'Hillbilly Elegy'?

A viral post on X by the now-closed account, @rickrudescalves, claimed that Vance admitted to a sexual act with couch cushions in his memoir. The claim was fake, but it spread widely and was even referenced on TV shows. The originator of the rumor identified themselves as a leftist and admitted to creating misinformation, though not intentionally.

What did JD Vance post about dolphins?

Vance posted a joke about a "Woman [getting] violated by a dolphin and enjoy[ing] it," with "woman" and "dolphin" bolded, indicating searched terms. X users questioned why he was searching for these terms, but it's possible he searched for the post to make a joke.

What was found on JD Vance's Venmo?

Wired reported that Vance's friends list on Venmo included people connected to conservative groups and high-profile individuals, including critics of Trump. The app auto-populates friends lists based on phone contacts, so they may not reflect active associations. Notable connections included Amalia Halikias of the Heritage Foundation and former senator Jeff Flake. Vance's Venmo account appears to be deleted now.

Does JD Vance wear eyeliner?

TikTok and Twitter users have speculated that Vance wears eyeliner, noting his prominent eyes and dark eyelashes. Old photos, like his Marine Corps picture, show he's always had dark eyelashes. Vance has not addressed this speculation.

What did JD Vance say about Mountain Dew?

Vance made a racist "joke" at a rally, saying that Democrats will call anything racist, including drinking Diet Mountain Dew. This sparked backlash and responses, including from Kentucky governor Andy Beshear.