Trump Derails Oval Office Meeting to Discuss JD Vance’s Socks
Vance remains committed to wearing undersized pants—and it’s earned him his boss’s undivided attention.
Donald Trump’s attention wavered during an Oval Office meeting with the Irish prime minister Wednesday after he found himself more interested in J.D. Vance’s shamrock-patterned socks than inflation.
“I have to just speak of inflation,” Trump told reporters who had gathered for the president’s meeting with Micheál Martin, before trailing off and pointing at Vance’s feet.
“I love your socks,” he told Vance softly, asking, “What’s with these socks?”
Vance laughed giddily as Trump continued gushing over his sidekick’s choice of footwear: “I’m trying to stay focused, but I’m very impressed with the VP’s [socks].”
Vance had opted for white socks adorned with green shamrocks, a subtle nod to the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day and his Irish guests. But thanks to his penchant for undersized pants that ride up his shins when he sits, the socks stole the show—and the president’s attention.
J.D. Vance wore shamrock socks during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin.
Mandel Ngan/Getty Images
The VP’s cropped pants became a social media spectacle last month, with one X user joking, “JD Vance is such a Constitutionalist that he wears 1700s britches and stockings.”
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Influential menswear commentator Derek Guy tried to offer some sartorial guidance at the time, suggesting, “The second lady should advise him to get wider pants and over-the-calf socks so that his bare leg doesn’t show when he sits down.”
JD Vance is such a Constitutionalist that he wears 1700s britches and stockings https://t.co/T2vkEAjGCC pic.twitter.com/6AkY3ebUPc
— nick fromtheinternet (@heyradar) February 20, 2025
But it seems the VP has remained committed to his signature look—and it’s earned him his boss’s undivided attention.
Trump didn’t revisit the topic of inflation after being sidetracked by Vance’s socks.
Inflation increased by 2.8% last month, slightly below forecasts. However, egg prices soared by 58.8% compared to last year, and experts warn that Trump’s trade wars with Canada, China, and Mexico could push prices higher in the near future.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.