Vice President JD Vance has faced a wave of online criticism after sharing a Halloween video featuring his young son Alec, the newest member of the family.
In the clip, Vance, 41, appears as Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster from the Harry Potter series. Wearing a long gray wig and a flowing robe, he holds Alec in his arms.
“Hey guys, Vice President Dumbledore here with little Dobby the Elf,” Vance says to the camera.
“Wishing you a Happy Halloween. Have fun, be safe, eat a lot of candy.”
Alec, who was born in July, wears a knitted hat with long elf ears modeled after Dobby, the beloved house elf from the franchise.
A family photo showed the Vances embracing a full wizarding-world theme. Second Lady Usha Vance wore the series’ famous Sorting Hat, while the couple’s eldest son, Ewan, dressed as Harry Potter.
Their other children, Vivek and Mirabel, appeared in costumes resembling a spider and a dragon.
Vance had already previewed the family’s coordinated costumes, explaining that his children are fans of Harry Potter, according to the Economic Times.
JD Vance, 41, shared a video dressed as Albus Dumbledore, complete with a long gray wig and robe, while holding his son Alec
Vance had previously unveiled the family’s Harry Potter-themed costumes, saying his children are fans of the series
The Vance family dressed as characters from the wizarding world, with Usha wearing the iconic Sorting Hat and eldest son Ewan portraying Harry Potter
The cheerful Halloween message quickly drew a divided response online, with some social media users mocking the vice president’s costume.
“Holy s***. This dude will never be president,” one user posted.
“JD Vance literally just keeps hitting all new lows,” another wrote.
A third commenter said: “Wow, at first I thought he was dressed as Erika Kirk. Until I started reading the comments, I didn’t know!”
“Not the first time this weirdo has put on a wig,” another user quipped.
Several commenters also brought up a resurfaced image of Vance wearing a blonde wig years ago.
“OMG this reminds me of you in a dress at college with a wig,” one person wrote.
“Diva sure loves a wig,” another added.
“Any excuse to wear a wig,” a third commenter wrote.
“Awww your wish came true you get to dress up like a woman again,” another post read.
Other users defended Vance, arguing that the vice president was simply taking part in a Halloween tradition with his child.
“Do you know how many US dads do this exact same thing because….. they are f***ing dads? STFU,” one person responded.
“Did you know October 31st is usually known as a fun holiday called Halloween? It’s where people dress up as things such as monsters, famous cartoons, and Harry Potter characters. It’s fun, you should learn more,” another user wrote sarcastically.
“Happy Halloween to you and your family, Mr. Vice President! Great costumes. Kids grow up fast, so enjoy every minute of it,” a third commenter said.
“Vice President Dumbledore and baby Dobby is the most wholesome thing on the timeline today,” another added.
Some commenters ignored the political debate altogether and focused on the newborn. “Politics aside, that baby is ridiculously cute,” one person wrote.
Usha and JD announced in January that they were expecting their fourth child. Vance later said the couple had ruled out having more children because of the demands of public life, until the assassination of his close friend Charlie Kirk last fall changed Usha’s perspective
Born in July, Alec wore a knitted hat with long elf ears for Halloween. Pictured: Alec Vance on July 24, 2026
“Baby is so cute! I know you’re happy they let you wear your wig and you pretty little dress today,” one commenter wrote.
“This is so sweet,” another added.
Usha and JD first announced their fourth-child pregnancy in January.
The last time an incumbent second family welcomed a newborn was in 1870, when Schuyler Colfax, vice president under Ulysses S. Grant, and his wife, Ellen, had a son.
In his memoir Communion, published this year, Vance wrote that he and Usha had decided not to have more children because of the pressures that come with public life. He said that changed after the assassination of his close friend Charlie Kirk last fall.
“Something changed for Usha, and not long after we buried my friend, she became pregnant with our fourth child, a boy. One life was stolen from us, but another was given,” he wrote.
Usha has said that Erika Kirk’s regret over not having more children with her murdered husband was “very powerful,” but not the factor that ultimately made the decision for her.
“I think I had already started to open my mind to the possibility,” she told CBS Sunday Morning.
