What started as a diplomatic trip is now raising eyebrows — and dark jokes. Vice President JD Vance’s international tour is being blamed online for a string of tragic events. First, the Pope. Now, a deadly attack in India.
Just one day after meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican, the 88-year-old pontiff died. And now, hours after Vance met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gunmen opened fire on tourists in Kashmir, killing at least two dozen people and injuring dozens more.
Vance had posted about the Pope’s death, writing: “I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill.”
According to the Vatican, Francis died from a stroke and heart failure. He had been battling pneumonia.
Then Vance landed in India. On Tuesday, after his meeting with Modi in New Delhi, terrorists attacked a tourist spot in Pahalgam, a quiet scenic meadow surrounded by snow-capped peaks.
The Vice President responded again on social media.
“Usha and I extend our condolences to the victims of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India,” Vance wrote. “Over the past few days, we have been overcome by the beauty of this country and its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific attack.”
The local police blamed militants opposed to Indian control of the region. At least three dozen others were wounded, many critically.
President of India Droupadi Murmu called it “a dastardly and inhuman act.”
“The terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam of Jammu and Kashmir is shocking and painful. It is a dastardly and inhuman act which must be condemned unequivocally. Attacking innocent citizens, in this case tourists, is utterly appalling and unpardonable. My heartfelt condolences,” she posted.
Online, the dark humor started swirling even before the attack. One user joked on Monday:
“Yesterday JD Vance met Pope Francis in Vatican & Today Pope Francis passed away. Today JD Vance arrived in India & meeting…,” user @DrJain21 teased on X on Monday.
After news of the Kashmir attack broke, the internet piled on.
@R3DFOX_hive wrote: “Vance is actually cursed.”
@JamesLe28779865 added: “He better stay” in Ohio “as a hillbilly.”
“After he visited Vatican seeing Pope, Pope died, after he visited India, horrific attack followed,” one post read.
“I can’t help but feel that JD Vance brings misfortune,” said @curiou_guy. “Just day before yesterday, he met the Pope, and the very next day, the Pope passed away. Yesterday, he arrived in India, and today we’re witnessing this heinous terrorist attack. The timing feels eerily unsettling.”
Vance is in India on a four-day visit amid trade talks between India and the U.S., as President Trump rolls back some tariffs. He’s expected to speak in Jaipur on Tuesday to discuss the negotiations.
But online, nobody’s talking tariffs — they’re talking curses.
