J.D. Vance in Communist Shirt Goes Viral: “Run This Everywhere in Miami”

"Perhaps the Dems CAN win Florida lmao," one social media user wrote.

July 30, 2024

Image: An old photo appears to show Donald Trump's running mate J.D. Vance wearing a T-shirt featuring a Soviet hammer and sickle.

An old photo has resurfaced appearing to show Donald Trump's running mate J.D. Vance wearing a T-shirt featuring a Soviet hammer and sickle. Screenshot via @travis_county_/X

What happens on the ground matters — Your support makes it possible.

We’re aiming to raise $6,000 by August 10, so we can deepen our reporting on the critical stories unfolding right now: grassroots protests, immigration, politics and more.

Contribute Now

Progress to goal

$6,000

$800

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
            "component": "22004575",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
            "component": "22595215",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "Editor Picks",
            "component": "17482312",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18711090",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - 2x Rectangles Desktop, Tower on Mobile - Labeled",
            "component": "23181625",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18711090",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
            "component": "17720761",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          }
        ]

It's been a rocky debut for Donald Trump's running mate, J.D. Vance.

First came the rumors about him fucking a couch. Then came his resurfaced comments about the country being run by "childless cat ladies," which sparked criticism from celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Kesha. Now, social media is grappling with a throwback photo that appears to show the Republican Ohio senator wearing a red T-shirt featuring a Soviet hammer and sickle.

"Run this everywhere in Miami and Miami Dade county," user @travis_county_ wrote of the photo in a now-viral post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Run this everywhere in Miami and Miami Dade county. pic.twitter.com/UXhLXfTzpa
— Austin Enjoyer (@travis_county_) July 28, 2024

In Florida, Republicans have long courted Cuban American voters by portraying Democrats as communist threats and sympathizers of the Castro regime. The strategy of stoking fears about communist infiltration has proven particularly effective in South Florida, where hundreds of thousands of Cuban exiles and their relatives reside.

So, sure, Vance's getup might've been a Halloween costume (some social media users pointed out that he might've been dressed up as Croatian-American wrestler Nikolai Volkoff, given that he's posing alongside men in wrestling costumes).

But imagine this photo being presented out-of-context in your family's WhatsApp group chat?

"Attention Cubans of Miami! Do you hate communism? Then you should probably not vote Trump/Vance 🤷🏻‍♂️" one user joked.

Attention Cubans of Miami! Do you hate communism? Then you should probably not vote Trump/Vance 🤷🏻‍♂️ https://t.co/OMxInU8xba
— Fire Sale Summer Rich(ie) 🌹🥥🌴🐟⚾️ (@superichie) July 28, 2024

"Comment with 🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️ if you want to see this on a billboard in Hialeah," another wrote.

Comment with 🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️ if you want to see this on a billboard in Hialeah. https://t.co/pUIjTKOPRn
— Miami Against Fascism 🌴☕️ (@MIAagainstFash) July 28, 2024

"Perhaps the Dems CAN win Florida lmao," a third replied.

Perhaps the Dems CAN win Florida lmao
— Jake Landau (He/Him) 🇵🇸🇺🇦 (@JakeLandauTO) July 28, 2024

"$100 million needs to be spent in South Florida now," another user wrote.

Oh $100 million needs to be spent in south Florida now
— Fitzpatrick Fan (@BrianFitzFan) July 28, 2024

Alex DeLuca is a Miami New Times staff writer who focuses on news, crime, and public safety, education, and cannabis. Prior to joining New Times in June 2020, Alex worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel and freelanced for The Appeal. She holds a bachelor's degree from the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida.

A message from Alex DeLuca: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of essential stories and to investigate issues that matter.

Support Today