Twitter users mercilessly mock Mike Pence for 'Elf on the Shelf' performance in Oval Office
WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence drew Twitter users' attention Tuesday with his restrained performance during a heated Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Democratic congressional leaders.
Pence sat stoically as his boss got into testy exchanges with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the likely next Speaker, House Minority Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Stoically may be an understatement. Stonily might be more accurate.
And he didn't say a word.
As one Twitter user phrased it with a holiday metaphor, Pence sat there "exactly like our Elf on the Shelf."
In a review of his performance, New York Times culture writer Sopan Deb declared Pence to "the worst member of this improv team."
mike pence is the worst member of this improv team
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) December 11, 2018
"Mike Pence powered down to save electricity," said Max Burns, the communications director for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.
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Mike Pence powered down to save electricity pic.twitter.com/TpFpa5mwrt
— Max Burns (@themaxburns) December 11, 2018
Radio host Dean Obeidallah wondered if Pence "is actually still alive" or if it was a "'Weekend at Bernie's' type scenario where they just prop up Pence at meetings."
This photo was really from the Trump-Pelosi-Schumer fight today. Can someone please check to see if Mike Pence is actually still alive or is this a "Weekend at Bernies" type scenario where they just prop up Pence at meetings. pic.twitter.com/EX1qJvP5ft
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) December 11, 2018
Here are some other reactions to Pence's quiet moments amid a chaotic meeting.
Today, we are all Mike Pence. pic.twitter.com/xvN4niXICG
— Anthony Zurcher (@awzurcher) December 11, 2018
I was most moved by Mike Pence's performance during the Nancy/Chuck Oval Office visit.
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 11, 2018
Prior to this meeting, Madame Tussaud’s rolled in this Mike Pence wax figure. pic.twitter.com/frH4FEG49U
— Steven Beschloss (@StevenBeschloss) December 11, 2018
We go live to Mike Pence pic.twitter.com/hWOo3qLemu
— Jessica Huseman (@JessicaHuseman) December 11, 2018
I'm really interested in the life-size Pence doll looking like he's regretting last night's fish wedged between them. RT @axios: Trump, Pelosi and Schumer spar in the Oval Office front of cameras over a deal for funding the government pic.twitter.com/5YXsrJG4wR
— Sarah Davis Dean (@GreenEyedSarah) December 11, 2018
Pence would rather be anywhere else right now pic.twitter.com/83v8RgVjIa
— Roland Scahill (@rolandscahill) December 11, 2018
I mean, would *you* insert yourself into this if you were Mike Pence?
— McKay Coppins (@mckaycoppins) December 11, 2018
tag yourself i’m mike pence pic.twitter.com/kKmoghXS8A
— Emma Thatcher 🎄 (@emmajthatcher) December 11, 2018
#quietpence. pic.twitter.com/c3J7iBqVfC
— OB “Silent Pence” KG™️ (@bklyn_g) December 11, 2018
Mike Pence has not said a word.
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) December 11, 2018
How Mike Pence could fall asleep during the heated meeting with Trump, Pelosi and Schumer is beyond me. 😴 No stamina!! pic.twitter.com/ZqrHc4kNWo
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) December 11, 2018
This is outstanding #mikepence pic.twitter.com/2IzVK1tnW2
— Jeff Pearlman (@jeffpearlman) December 11, 2018
Mike Pence, meanwhile, sits in silence, thanking heaven that there are other men around so he doesn't have to meet with Nancy Pelosi alone.
— Dante Atkins (@DanteAtkins) December 11, 2018
Pence checking his nonexistent watch for 2020 pic.twitter.com/UPE3xKbQSd
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) December 11, 2018
Never take a Mike Pence to a gunfight #TrumpShutdown
(Pic: AP) pic.twitter.com/LNN99fYT0u— Israel Beauchamp (@IsraelBeauchamp) December 11, 2018
Mike Pence was there too. He contributed several nods to the discussion.
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) December 11, 2018
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Twitter users mercilessly mock Mike Pence for 'Elf on the Shelf' performance in Oval Office