Vice President JD Vance found himself at the center of a political firestorm this week after a high-profile interview on Fox News, where his responses to questions about the 2028 presidential election and Olympic skier Eileen Gu’s decision to represent China drew both sharp criticism and widespread attention online. The interview, which aired on February 17, 2026, on Fox News’ “The Story With Martha MacCallum,” showcased Vance navigating a series of pointed questions about his political ambitions, foreign policy, and the intersection of sports and national identity.
The segment began with host Martha MacCallum pressing Vance on a topic that’s been swirling in Republican circles for months: Would he run for president in 2028? With President Donald Trump having recently commented on his potential successors—praising both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “fantastic”—the speculation has only intensified. Trump had told reporters, “Something I don’t have to worry about now. I’ve got three years to go,” before adding, “JD’s fantastic, and Marco—they’re both fantastic, I think, really. And I think Marco did a great job in Munich.”
When MacCallum asked Vance if he hoped Trump would endorse him for the top of the ticket, Vance sidestepped, stating, “I think the president is very smartly saying, ‘We’ve got three years to go, and how about everybody focuses on the job the American people elected us to do, rather than something that is very far in the future?’” He then suggested that the media was trying to create a “conflict” between himself and Rubio where none existed, emphasizing, “Marco’s doing a great job, I’m trying to do as good of a job as I can, the president’s doing a great job, we’re going to keep on working together.”
The exchange grew more tense when MacCallum pressed, “But surely, as vice president, you’d like to be president?” Vance responded with a loud, awkward laugh, asking, “Would I?” before reiterating his intent to focus on his current role. “Why don’t I do as good of a job as I can at this job? We’ll work about the next job some time in the future,” he said.
Social media erupted in response to Vance’s demeanor. Critics from across the political spectrum pounced on his laughter and evasiveness. According to NJ.com, Republican Sarah Matthews posted, “It’s truly impressive how unlikable JD Vance is,” while journalist Ahmed Baba wrote, “JD Vance has negative rizz. Anti-aura. Unlimited lame.” Progressive influencer Jack Cocchiarella quipped, “Has anyone ever been this unlikable?” and political commentator Camille Mackenzie accused Vance of playing “dumb,” arguing, “We know that’s why you took the job because being a no-name, Frankenstein’s Senator wasn’t going to make it to be president having done nothing of significance. You still won’t be president unless Trump is impeached, so I guess it was all for nothing.”
Vance’s laugh, described by some as “cartoonishly evil” and “the most cartoonishly evil laugh I’ve ever heard,” became a meme almost instantly. As reported by HuffPost, one user likened it to “the forced laugh that first year theater kids practice before auditions.” The moment seemed to crystallize skepticism about Vance’s readiness for the presidency and his standing within Trump’s inner circle. Some observers noted that Vance’s diplomatic non-answer was likely a lesson learned from a previous controversy, when he appeared to speak out of turn about the president’s stance on abortion—a move that earned him a public rebuke from Trump.
Despite the mockery, Vance remained steadfast in his praise for his colleagues, particularly Marco Rubio, whom he called his “closest friend in the administration.” He also took the opportunity to discuss foreign policy, criticizing Iran for not acknowledging “the red lines Trump has set for them,” a statement that coincided with a 3% jump in U.S. crude oil prices. Vance further criticized Democrats, specifically targeting Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for her remarks at the Munich Security Council, where she warned of Trump’s “authoritarian” plans and expressed support for Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.
The interview also touched on the perennial question of Trump’s political future. Trump has repeatedly joked about running for a third term, despite the 22nd Amendment’s clear prohibition. The amendment states, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.” Trump told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” last year that he would “probably not” run for a third term, though he admitted he would like to. When asked by Fox News’ Peter Doocy in August 2025 about Vance as his political successor, Trump suggested, “Well, I think most likely, in all fairness, he’s the vice president. I think Marco is also somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form.”
In addition to election talk, Vance weighed in on a controversy that has divided sports fans and politicians alike: Olympic skier Eileen Gu’s decision to compete for China in the 2026 Winter Olympics, despite being born and raised in San Francisco. Gu, who added two silver medals to her collection in Milan-Cortina, has become the most-awarded female skier in Olympic history. However, her choice to represent her mother’s home country has drawn criticism, with some labeling her a “traitor.”
Asked for his view, Vance said, “I have no idea what her status should be. I think that’s ultimately up to the Olympics Committee. I won’t pretend to wade into that.” Still, he implied that Gu should have represented Team USA: “I certainly think that somebody who grew up in the United States of America, who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place, I would hope that they want to compete with the United States of America. So, I’m going to root for American athletes, and I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That’s who I’m rooting for this Olympics.”
Vance, who attended the Olympics’ Opening Ceremony with his wife Usha and was audibly booed at San Siro Stadium, also addressed the role of politics in sports. He advised athletes, “My advice to them would be to try to bring the country together, and when you’re representing the country, you’re representing Democrats and Republicans. You’re there to play a sport, and you’re there to represent your country and hopefully win a medal. You’re not there to pop off about politics.” He acknowledged that athletes who do speak out should “expect some pushback,” but added, “most Olympic athletes, whatever their politics, are doing a great job.”
Gu, for her part, has spoken openly about the difficulties of her decision, telling The Athletic she’s faced “physical assault on the streets” and “death threats” while at Stanford University. She explained, “In the U.S. growing up, I had so many idols to look up to. But in China, I feel like there are a lot fewer of those. I’d have a much greater impact in China than in the U.S., and that’s ultimately why I made my decision.” She’s described her choice as “an incredibly tough decision,” motivated by a desire to “help inspire millions of young people where my mom was born.”
As the 2026 political season heats up and the world continues to watch the Olympics, Vance’s interview has put a spotlight on the delicate balance between personal ambition, national loyalty, and the ever-blurring lines between politics and sports. For now, Vance insists he’s focused on his current job—but the questions, and the scrutiny, aren’t likely to fade anytime soon.