Vice President’s Halloween costume draws attention to past photos

On Saturday, Vance posted a video to X depicting himself as the Harry Potter character Albus Dumbledore. He wore a long silver wig, a gray robe, and a pointed hat, accompanied by his youngest son dressed as Dobby the elf. “Vice President Dumbledore here with little Dobby the Elf wishing you a Happy Halloween,” Vance said in the video. He added, “Have fun. Be safe. Eat a lot of candy.”

The costume choice brought back attention to photos that surfaced in August 2024. The images, reportedly from a 2012 Halloween party at Yale Law School, showed Vance wearing a blonde wig, a dress, and makeup. Podcast host Matt Bernstein shared the photos on X, causing them to go viral.

A former Yale classmate, Travis Whitfill, confirmed the images originated from a group chat among Vance’s former colleagues and were taken by another student.

The resurfaced photos have prompted renewed scrutiny of Vance’s views on LGBTQ+ issues, particularly given his political positions. He introduced the Protect Children’s Innocence Act in the Senate, targeting gender-affirming care for minors. Vance has also used terms like “groomers” to describe critics of “Don’t Say Gay” legislation and opposed the Respect for Marriage Act.

Recently, Vance made comments about Democratic Texas Senate candidate Jamie Talarico’s sexuality during a campaign rally. Responding to an audience member’s declaration of affection, Vance quipped, “I love you too, sir. In a totally platonic way, to be clear. I’m the vice president, not James Talarico.”