Vice President JD Vance found himself at the center of an online backlash on Monday after blaming skyrocketing gas prices on international conflicts and what he described as “tin-pot dictators,” with social media users quickly turning the phrase back on President Donald Trump.
Speaking at a midterms rally in Belgrade, Montana, Vance addressed voter frustrations regarding the cost of fuel while making a direct appeal to undecided voters. He acknowledged widespread concerns about inflation and fuel expenses while attempting to frame current economic pressures within a broader historical context.
“Now you will hear — and I want to speak a little bit to the undecided voters out there — you will hear many say that gas prices are too high, that there’s still so much work to do on correcting the terrible Biden inflation, the highest inflation that we saw in 50 years in our country, and I understand that. I agree with it,” Vance told the gathering.
To illustrate his argument, the vice president pointed to past global conflicts and geopolitical crises that disrupted energy markets over the decades. He referenced the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, arguing that fuel costs spiked dramatically during that period to levels surpassing current figures. He also cited historical price surges in 1979, 2001, and 2007.
“They skyrocketed in 1979, they skyrocketed in 2001, they skyrocketed in 2007. They skyrocket every time some tin-pot dictator decides to throw a tantrum. And we’ve got to remember that,” Vance said.
Within hours of the speech, online commentators seized on the remarks, noting that the vice president’s historical timeline omitted foreign conflicts and market disruptions that occurred during Trump’s presidency. Social media platforms quickly filled with posts questioning whether the phrasing was an inadvertent swipe at the administration’s leadership.
“Is he really talking about his boss that way?” wrote one user on X, responding to a video clip of the speech and triggering a cascade of similar reactions. Other commentators suggested the phrasing could complicate future political dynamics, noting the timeline for upcoming electoral cycles.
Additional users recalled Vance’s previous political positions before he joined the administration, while others warned of potential political risks associated with the remarks ahead of the midterms. Despite the immediate social media reaction, Vance maintained during his address that increasing domestic energy production is the most effective strategy to insulate American households from geopolitical instability, particularly in the Middle East.
