Crucial Quote
McGonigle said in her May Instagram post that despite being told by the Secret Service the Maine event was private, “every single sign pointed to this being a public event,” such as her receiving a confirmation directly from Vance’s office and the event materials carrying the White House seal. “Either it was a public event as advertised and I was denied entry because I think J.D. Vance is a sentient jar of mayonnaise, or it was a private event and taxpayer dollars were being used to fund J.D. Vance’s little ‘safe space,’” McGonigle said on Instagram. “Either way, it’s giving lawsuit vibes.”
Read more Manhattan Building At Risk Of Collapse—Evacuations Follow Falling Bricks
What to Watch for
McGonigle’s suit notes she will try to attend more of Vance’s public events in the coming weeks and “express her views as an audience member, including by cheering, booing, and wearing clothing with political messages.” (At the event in Maine, McGonigle reported wearing a shirt saying, “J.D. Vance cured my imposter syndrome.”) Her lawsuit argues there’s “a credible threat that Ms. McGonigle will be excluded from such events” and could face criminal charges, however, without court intervention. The creator wants the court to rule the White House violated her First Amendment rights by barring her from past events, and bar the Trump administration from blocking her from any future events.
Key Background
Vance has emerged as the likely frontrunner for the 2028 GOP presidential nomination, but continues to struggle with winning Americans’ approval, with recent polling finding on average that some 48% of Americans disapprove of his job performance while 41% approve. McGonigle’s account mocking Vance was borne out of viral comments the vice president made that attracted widespread criticism, as Vance attacked “childless cat ladies” in a 2021 interview that resurfaced during the 2024 election. (He has since called the comment “one of the dumbest things I ever said.”) The “couch” part of her username comes from a viral joke about Vance. McGonigle’s claim she was kept out of a public event comes as the Trump administration has had other instances of restricting access based on coverage or viewpoint, such as barring the Associated Press from restricted areas of the White House after the outlet declined to use the phrase “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico.”
Read more Trump Again Calls For U.S. Control Over Greenland
Further Reading
JD Vance’s Nantucket visit to face ‘Meowtucket’ protest organized by cat Instagram account (Cape Cod Times)
Vance calls his ‘childless cat ladies’ comment ‘one of the dumbest things I ever said’ (NBC News)
Read more Top Democratic Supporters Tell Maine Senate Candidate Platner: Drop Out