Vice President JD Vance’s latest Halloween costume resurrected a skeleton in his closet.
Vance transformed himself into the Harry Potter wizard Albus Dumbledore on Saturday, wearing a long silver wig, flowing gray robe and pointed wizard hat in a video shared to X.
“Vice President Dumbledore here with little Dobby the Elf wishing you a Happy Halloween,” Vance announced in the clip, holding his youngest son, who was dressed as the house elf.
“Have fun. Be safe. Eat a lot of candy.”
But the costume reminded the internet of the veep’s past controversy over a holiday get-up involving now-infamous photos allegedly showing the then-future vice president in drag while attending Yale Law School.
Two photos of Vance wearing a blonde wig, a dress and makeup surfaced online in August 2024, just months before he was elected alongside President Trump.
The images, reportedly taken at a Halloween party in 2012, went viral after podcast host Matt Bernstein shared them on X.
Travis Whitfill, a former Yale classmate who helped circulate the images, said the pictures came from a group chat of Vance’s ex-colleagues and were taken by another student.
The photos drew fresh attention to Vance’s stances on LGBTQ+ issues, with critics highlighting the apparent contrast between his college-era costume and his conservative political positions.
Vance introduced the Protect Children’s Innocence Act in the Senate, legislation aimed at criminalizing the provision of gender-affirming care to minors.
He has also referred to critics of so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation as “groomers” and opposed the Respect for Marriage Act, which protects federal recognition of same-sex marriages.
More recently, Vance sparked another round of online ridicule by taking a swipe at Democratic Texas Senate candidate Jame Talarico’s sexuality during an October campaign rally. Vance has insinuated in the past that Talarico is gay.
Vance, joking when an audience member professed his love, replied, “I love you too, sir.
“In a totally platonic way, to be clear. I’m the vice president, not James Talarico.”
