George Santos tries to settle debate on JD Vance's use of eyeliner but Internet is not convinced

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: While the vice presidential debate highlighted critical political issues, social media was abuzz with a completely different concern: Was Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance wearing eyeliner?

While many focused on the candidates' policies, a flurry of online users became captivated by Vance’s seemingly defined eyes. In an unexpected twist, former Republican Congressman George Santos stepped into the conversation to settle the debate.

Vance, and Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, Governor Tim Walz, went head-to-head at the vice-presidential debate the night of October 1, as per USA Today.

George Santos shuts down JD Vance eyeliner rumors

“Vance does NOT use eyeliner,” Santos boldly declared on X, immediately after the debate wrapped up. His tweet seemed aimed at ending the ongoing speculation that had overtaken political discourse for the evening.

Offering his personal insight, Santos elaborated, “I’ve met him in person before he was a senator and I can confirm he has long eyelashes and they cast a shadow on his waterline when is studios full of lights... Grow up people!”

Santos, no stranger to makeup controversies himself, seemed uniquely equipped to address the debate.

According to The Independent, earlier this year, the former Congressman made headlines when he revived his drag queen persona Kitara Ravache  on the video platform Cameo, despite previously denying ever participating in drag.

On the morning of April 29, Santos made an announcement on X, revealing that his alter ego, Kitara, was available for bookings on Cameo.

He shared, "Y’all weren’t ready for this drop? I’ve decided to bring Kitara out of the closet after 18 years!" alongside a link to the platform.

Reflecting on his own experience with makeup, Santos shared in a December 2023 interview, “If I was a career drag queen then, like everybody likes to claim, then I must be a myth of a drag queen now... I wear far more makeup today," as per The Guardian.

His comments added a layer of humor and eerie familiarity to his defense of Vance but Santos’ declaration wasn’t the final word.

Surge in searches over JD Vance's eyeliner debate

Following the start of the debate, Google searches spiked with people asking if Vance wears eyeliner, indicating a sudden surge of curiosity about his appearance.

A viewer expressed, "Yes he does. Is it from Sephora or Ulta?"

In a similar fashion, another observer added, "If there’s anyone I can believe stared deep into JD Vance’s eyes, it’s George Santos."

Furthermore, a viewer pointed out, "JD Vance has the face of a man caught between eras. He looks like he wants to segregate a My Chemical Romance concert."

Joining the discussion, a follower shared, "This is a huge win for fascists who also love eyeliner."

Similarly, another comment echoed, "We all know they believe real men wear makeup."

Some also apparently loved Vance's eyes, as an individual elaborated, "He has GORGEOUS eyes."

"Loe this so pretty he is," another commented. 

A remark underscored, "He's got gorgeous eyes and dark lashes, he's young and handsome."

The specualtion about Vance's eye make theory didn't stop with the Internet. 

Photojournalist Zach Roberts, who had been photographing JD Vance in the weeks leading up to the debate, reportedly offered a different take on the eyeliner mystery.

Posting a close-up photo of Vance’s eye, Roberts wrote, “I really thought people were joking about this, but then I photographed him last week. Vance 100% does wear eyeliner.” His claim reignited the debate online, with Roberts standing firm in his observation.

Even before Santos and Roberts weighed in, the conversation around Vance’s eyelashes had been building for months.

In August, Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, tried to quash the rumors during an interview with PuckNews.

"They’re all natural. I’ve always been jealous of those lashes," she shared, expressing amusement over the attention her husband’s lashes had garnered.

Adding fuel to the fire, The Lincoln Project joined in the online humor with a cheeky clip of JD Vance sporting an exaggerated filter - complete with swooped dark hair and a nose piercing.

The caption? “Long lasting waterproof eyeliner stays on even after 90 mins of whining and lying.” Their playful jab at the controversy only added to the viral momentum of the conversation.