The Daily Mail published a story on 29 October 2026 claiming that Vice President JD Vance shouted an expletive at a 28 October AI platform launch held at America.gov, where Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang spoke. The report said Vance, who was running 30 minutes late for a meeting with RFK Jr., stormed the backstage area, berated his communications team and demanded that Musk and Huang leave the stage. It further alleged that Vance dropped an F‑word while scolding his staff.
Vance’s hardline stance on the H‑1B visa program has made him a lightning‑rod for Silicon Valley, which relies on high‑skill immigrant workers. The alleged outburst, if true, would have amplified tensions between Washington and the tech community, but the claim was amplified by a tabloid known for sensationalism.
Deputy chief of staff William Martin said the story was fabricated, citing that no such incident occurred and that Vance was present at the event. Martin added that delays at the launch were routine and that Vance’s team had no reason to act aggressively.
A staffer who attended the launch confirmed that Vance was composed and that the event ran smoothly after a brief hold‑up. The staffer said, “There was no shouting or confrontation; the VP was simply waiting for his scheduled slot.”
The White House has not yet issued a formal statement, but Vance’s office has warned the Daily Mail that it will pursue legal action if the paper does not issue a correction. The incident will be examined by the White House’s communications director, who is set to meet with the publication’s editors next week.