Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) was subjected to ridicule Tuesday over his emotional explanation as to why he decided to join former President Donald Trump at his criminal hush money trial.
Vance, considered a potential running mate for the presumptive Republican nominee, did not speak of politics during his Fox News interview, but of friendship.
"I was there to support a friend," said Vance. "Recognizing that sometimes it's a little bit lonely to sit up there by yourself, I offered to, you know, come in and just maybe be a friendly face in the courtroom."
President Joe Biden's campaign leapt at the words "lonely" and "friendly face" when they shared a video clip of Vance's statement on social media Tuesday afternoon.
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Followers on X were quick to take the bait and offer their own opinions on Vance's purported friendship with Trump.
"At what point are we going to talk about how truly crazy/pathetic/bizarre it is that grown men are acting like this?" wrote former President Barack Obama strategist Jim Messina.
Another X user argued Vance's presence in Manhattan criminal court on Monday only highlighted the absence of former First Lady Melania Trump.
"Why isn't his loyal, devoted wife by his side?" wrote @ScoopTheGhost.
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X user @HansonRitta resorted to satire with a comment comparing Trump's treks to court to a little boy going to school.
"There was once a kid so bad he didn't have any friends," they wrote. "His Mom had to tie a steak around his neck to get the dog to play with him. Basically that is trumps trial. The campaign had to convince politicians to come."
X user @brothersjudd challenged Vance's claim to friendship.
"Donald couldn't pick him out of a police line-up, he wrote. "Which is pretty much where this career trajectory ends."
