guides
What's With The Memes About J.D. Vance Asking Zelenskyy 'Have You Said Thank You Once?' The Jokes After The Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting Explained
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance is going viral for asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, "Have you said, 'Thank you,' once?" during a tense meeting with President Donald Trump last Friday.
VP Vance was trying to acknowledge the billions of dollars in aid that the U.S. has given Ukraine amid its ongoing war against Russia started by President Vladimir Putin's invasion in 2022.
The meeting, and Vance's questioning, indicated a shift in the new White House's foreign policy. For many of their detractors, Vance's insistence on being thanked was both hilarious and embarrassing, though many of his fans praised the statement.
Thus, a slew of memes making fun of the Vice President have surfaced on social media over the last several days, but who started the trend and how's it spreading? Let's explain.
Where Did The 'Have You Said Thank You Once' J.D. Vance Memes Come From?
On Friday, President Donald Trump and his VP J.D. Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House to sign a "minerals deal" that would grant the U.S. greater access to the country's rare earth minerals — meant to offset some of the U.S. military aid over the last few years.
As reported in the media whirlwind following the tumultuous meeting, it ended with no deal being signed and President Zelenskyy being told to leave the White House.
The meeting was tense overall with Trump, Zelenskyy and Vance all talking over one another at several moments. One of those moments included Vance asking Zelenskyy, "Have you said, 'Thank you,' once this entire meeting?"
The clip went mega-viral on Twitter / X and other platforms that day, gaining over 21 million views in one tweet alone.
Vance: Have you said thank you once? Zelenskyy: You think if you speak very loudly--Trump: He’s not speaking loudly. You’ve done a lot of talking. You’re not winning this pic.twitter.com/32wEHc4Pk6
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 28, 2025
The reaction from either side of the political aisle couldn't have been more different.
For one, the official White House Twitter account posted a tweet that showed VP Vance during the meeting with his "Have you said, 'Thank you,' once?" quote captioned above him. The post seemingly idolized Vance for saying it.
Alternatively, Vance's critics took the opportunity to parody and mock him. Memes likened Vance's statement to a toddler asking for the "magic words," seen holding a lollipop and wearing a propeller hat in tow.
What's With The Photoshops Of J.D. Vance's Face?
Since October of last year, a series of absurd Photoshop edits of J.D. Vance's face have landed on social media. The trend started with a so-called "babyface edit" that made Vance's cheeks rounder and his skin pinker.
These edits humorously emasculate the Vice President as a reaction to the perception that he tries too hard to be masculine and "based," like when purported screenshots went viral of Vance using the slang term "simps" under the impression that it was "cool kid lingo."
For the full history of J.D. Vance's "Have You Said Thank You Once," be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.
