From bad jokes to awkward donuts: Inside JD Vance’s very weird week on the road

Ever since Tim Walz accused JD Vance and his running mate of being “weird,” the Republican vice presidential nominee has struggled to escape the perception, at least according to his political opponents, that he’s a strange, awkward guy who emerged from the right-wing corners of Silicon Valley and the Internet.

Sure, it may be hard to compete with the carnival charisma of Donald Trump, but another week on the campaign trail seemed to do little to change the attack lines against Vance.

There weren’t any all-time political gaffes like dismissing those without traditional families as “childless cat ladies,” but the US Senator for Ohio still managed to generate plenty of raised eyebrows and awkward silences.

It began on Sunday when Vance compared Vice President Kamala Harris to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein to make a point on inflation.

“Giving Kamala Harris control over inflation policy, it’s like giving Jeffrey Epstein control over human trafficking policy,” Vance told Fox News, in an interview where he also said polls showing his side was behind were “fake.”

The following day, Vance was accused of “crimes against humanity”— or at least Philadelphia — for bringing up Swiss cheese during a stop at Pat’s King of Steaks, a legendary Philly cheesesteak shop that only offers American, provolone, and Cheez Whiz as toppings.

“I don’t like Swiss cheese either, but everybody says it’s insulting,” Vance asked at the Pat’s register, a seeming reference to John Kerry catching flak for asking for Swiss during a 2004 campaign stop.

Pat’s manager Sammy Garcia told The Philadelphia Inquirer his team “thought it was funny,” but Vance critics quickly seized on the moment on social media.

“Today, in my beloved city of Philadelphia,” Democrat