Compared to last week’s Trump-fueled debate disaster, Wednesday night’s vice presidential debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) was a more conventional affair, but that didn’t stop subtle-yet-show-stopping moments from going viral (no pun intended).
In the midst of Harris’ repeated reminders to Pence that “I’m speaking” and the VP’s repeated dodges on critical issues such as climate change and abortion, Twitter users were quick to react to the absurd moments that involuntarily put Pence under a microscope.
From a mid-debate conspiracy speculating that Pence’s bloodshot eyes throughout the night were a sign of COVID-19 to a fly that wouldn’t leave the VP’s head for several minutes, here’s how Twitter users (including Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden) had a field day during the debate:
Pitch in $5 to help this campaign fly. https://t.co/CqHAId0j8t pic.twitter.com/NbkPl0a8HV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 8, 2020
A parody account twitter resurgence is actually the cherry on top of the worst year ever https://t.co/TqNFR9MwHm
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) October 8, 2020
That debate was fly
(Sorry)
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) October 8, 2020
Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that debate hall…
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 8, 2020
“That was some weird shit.”
~The Fly— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) October 8, 2020
The fly went over its allotted two minutes — but only by 3 seconds https://t.co/cWVnFRCzzf
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) October 8, 2020
Pence so fly
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) October 8, 2020
The fly on Pence's head was the perfect symbol of the moral and spiritual rot eating away at Pence's core as he offered those smarmy apologetics for Trump's racism and active encouragement of white supremacy.
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) October 8, 2020
Thoughts and prayers for this fly #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/QlDCbIsLh6
— Marcy Stech (@etchaStech) October 8, 2020
Just came to check on the bug conversation
— Katie Rogers (@katierogers) October 8, 2020
pretty fly for a white guy
— Philip Bump (@pbump) October 8, 2020
the fly has won this debate
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) October 8, 2020
oh, to be a fly on the… pic.twitter.com/eogdc6aU9U
— Will Steakin (@wsteaks) October 8, 2020
That's not on your TV. It's on his head.
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) October 8, 2020
"Researchers identify pink eye as possible primary symptom of COVID-19" https://t.co/nWZ9CkjpdP
— Joshua Green (@JoshuaGreen) October 8, 2020
Pence’s bleeding eye raises questions about his health but the White House says he’s fine and thankfully they’re extremely credible on such matters
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 8, 2020
Pink eye is a symptom of Covid-19. Saying that for no reason at all.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) October 8, 2020
Undead VP's Rona eye is so disturbing.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) October 8, 2020
The strangely pink eyes of Mike Pence. Move Kamala Harris back another six feet. #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/uDrl1ZM5f3
— Tim Teeman (@TimTeeman) October 8, 2020
I used to teach preschool and if a kid showed up with Mike Pence’s weird red eyes we wouldn’t have let his parents drop him off.
— Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman) October 8, 2020
Swap the red tie for a black tie, and Mike Pence and his dead eyes look like an undertaker.
— Josh Newman (@Joshua_Newman) October 8, 2020
oh my god mike pence’s eye just fell outI think it rolled under the desk I hope he doesn’t step on it
— kilgore trout, acting president (@KT_So_It_Goes) October 8, 2020
If there’s one thing flies know…it’s the smell of bullshit.
I don’t think he felt the fly because I don’t think that’s his hair up there. I think he wears a rug.
Ah, Pence. Calm, soothing, completely unaware of anything happening around him.
I’m pretty sure Senator Harris saw it and checked herself to make sure she wouldn’t bust out laughing.
She exercised far more control than I could have.
Those eyes are promising…