JD Vance Responds to Affirmative Action Claims with Viral Meme, Fueling "PWEASE" Meme Coin Surge

U.S. Vice President JD Vance recently engaged in a social media exchange with political commentator Joy Reid, who suggested his admission to Yale Law School might have been influenced by diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Vance responded by posting a viral meme of himself as a baby, a move that subsequently triggered a significant spike in the value of the "PWEASE" meme coin. The incident highlights ongoing debates surrounding affirmative action and the intersection of politics and internet culture.

Joy Reid, during an appearance on Don Lemon's podcast, posited that Yale Law School might have sought an "Appalachian white" like Vance to diversify its student body, rather than solely admitting "white men from New York." "Maybe the way JD Vance got into Yale is because they were tired of just letting in white men from New York… and they wanted an Appalachian white," Reid stated, attributing this potential scenario to affirmative action and DEI. Her comments came in response to earlier remarks from conservative activist Charlie Kirk regarding Black women's success.

In a direct retort, Vance shared a widely circulated meme featuring his face photoshopped onto a baby, a recurring internet joke that has previously mocked him. This marked the first instance of Vance himself participating in the meme, which initially gained traction following a tense Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy where Vance questioned Zelenskyy's gratitude for U.S. aid. The meme's resurgence quickly garnered over 3.8 million views on X within hours.

Following Vance's meme post, the Solana-based "PWEASE" meme coin experienced a dramatic surge, skyrocketing by 65% in value within an hour. The token, which originated from the "pwease and tank you, Mistow Zensky" meme, had previously reached a peak market capitalization of $54 million before declining. Vance's engagement with the meme provided a significant, albeit temporary, boost to the cryptocurrency's market performance.

The exchange between Reid and Vance underscores the contentious nature of affirmative action and DEI discussions in American society. Reid's argument suggests that such policies can extend beyond racial considerations to include socioeconomic or regional diversity, while Vance's response, though humorous, implicitly dismisses the premise of her argument. The incident also demonstrates the unpredictable influence of political figures on meme culture and the volatile cryptocurrency market.