Vance booed during DC burger handout

The vice president defends federal troops in the capital as JD Vance is booed during a burger handout to National Guard troops at Union Station amid protests.

JD Vance booed during hamburger handout to National Guard troops in DC

At Union Station in Washington, JD Vance was booed and heckled as he handed burgers to National Guard troops deployed last week. He stood with Defense Secretary and White House aides as demonstrators outside shouted slogans like Free DC and raised concerns about safety.

The moment mixes politics with security theater. Food handouts become props to shape a narrative about safety and order in the capital. The crowd’s cheers and jeers show how the public reads federal intervention in a city where crime data recently pointed to a downtrend. The episode also reveals how political allies use public spaces and events to project leadership during tense times.
In broader terms, the scene exposes partisan fault lines over governance and crime. Troop deployments from several states underline the political calculus behind security policy in a city that locals experience as ordinary life interrupted. The rhetoric around safety and civility echoes into future debates over federal involvement in city affairs.

Highlights

Security policy will continue to shape how people view leadership in the capital.