January 1, Vance Gets Warm Bengals Welcome Despite Media Spin

Wyatt’s Take

• Media tried to paint JD Vance as unwelcome at Bengals practice, but real footage shows the opposite.
• Players, coaches, and staff greeted the vice president and his family with genuine warmth and respect.
• Vance, an Ohio native and lifelong Bengals fan, continues to connect with heartland communities despite fake narratives.

The story making rounds on social media claimed Vice President JD Vance got the cold shoulder from Cincinnati Bengals players at a recent team practice. A short clip without sound made it look like most players walked right past him.

New video obtained by OutKick tells a different story. It shows Bengals head coach Zac Taylor giving Vance an enthusiastic handshake, and players stopping to talk with him and his family.

“Seeing how the media works is actually pretty crazy. The players, staff, and Vice President Vance and his son all had a great time at practice,” a source with direct knowledge told OutKick. “All of these negative tweets and articles are completely detached from the reality of how well the visit went.”

“This is what TOTAL HUMILIATION looks like: JD Vance attempted to greet Cincinnati Bengals players in the locker room and got snubbed and ghosted by every single player except one,” one person wrote on X.

“JD Vance walked into the Bengals locker room looking for a photo-op, and the players gave him the cold shoulder he deserves,” another person wrote, adding that the team didn’t want to be used for “political theater.”

The source confirmed Vance and his son were warmly welcomed during the unannounced visit. A photo shows the vice president and his family playing catch on the field. Defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence also approached Vance for a conversation.

Vance, an Ohio native, grew up about an hour from Cincinnati and still keeps a home in the city’s East Walnut Hills neighborhood. He toured the locker room, shook hands with players and staff, and left with a football as a memento.

Quarterback Joe Burrow said he “did not” talk to Vance. “He came with everybody and left with swiftness and efficiency before the end of practice, so I didn’t get to,” Burrow told reporters.

Vance was in town to speak at the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office and hold a campaign rally at the Sharonville Convention Center.

Wyatt Matters

Heartland folks know the difference between real people and media spin. When a hometown guy like Vance shows up to support his team and gets treated with respect, that matters more than any headline trying to divide us.