WASHINGTON, D.C., August 20, 2025 – Vice President JD Vance faced boos and chants from protesters during a visit to thank National Guard troops at Union Station, where he pointedly mocked one demonstrator as “the guy who thinks people don’t deserve law and order in their own community.” The moment, captured in a viral video shared by @ThePatriotOasis on X, highlights ongoing friction over President Donald Trump’s federal takeover of D.C. law enforcement.
In the 24-second clip, Vance, accompanied by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, is seen interacting with troops while protesters shout “Free DC!” in the background. Vance gestures toward the crowd, delivers the quip, and elicits laughter from supporters. The post, captioned “🚨BREAKING: JD Vance mocked a far-left protestor RIGHT TO THEIR FACE… He will be a GREAT 48TH President!! 🤣🤣,” has garnered 1,523 likes, 246 reposts, and over 19,000 views as of today.
Replies to the post reflect polarized opinions, with supporters praising Vance’s directness—such as “Lmao I f**king love it 🤣🤣 Call them out and mock them to their faces”—while critics referenced derogatory memes, like “Sounded to me, more like someone who doesn’t like boot licking couch f**kers.”
The visit comes amid Trump’s August 11 executive order declaring a “crime emergency” in D.C. and deploying nearly 2,000 National Guard troops to assist federal agencies in combating violent crime.
The administration cites D.C.’s high violent crime rates, claiming they exceed those of all 50 states, and has arrested gang members, kidnappers, and drug traffickers in recent operations.
Vance and others, including Miller who called protesters “stupid white hippies” and “crazy communists,” framed the deployment as restoring order.
However, critics argue the crackdown is unnecessary and politically motivated. Violent crime in D.C. spiked in 2023 but declined 10-26% in 2024 and further in 2025, with homicides dropping 19-32% year-over-year, according to city data, the Council on Criminal Justice, and fact-checks from multiple outlets.
Mayor Muriel Bowser has pushed back, noting violent crime is at a 30-year low.
Protests against the federal surge, including chants at Union Station, underscore local resentment over home rule erosion.