Best Tweets VP Debate Night

Skip navigation!

Twitter isn't in quite the frenzy it had been over last week's presidential showdown between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, but that's definitely not to say there's nothing to see here, folks. Between Tim Kaine's notorious dad humor and Mike Pence's premature victory lap, social media had a lot to work with in advance of Tuesday night's vice presidential debate. Even the candidates' supposed "boringness" was fodder for hilarity. Social media dubbed the debate the #ThrillaInVanilla well in advance.

Congrats to whoever came up with "The Thrilla in Vanilla" for #VPDebate. It's only perfect.
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) October 4, 2016

I hope Pence and Kaine wear name tags. You can't ask us to distinguish between the two stale end pieces of a loaf of Wonderbread.
— TayGo (@taygogo) October 5, 2016

Amazing photo of Pence meeting Kaine pic.twitter.com/N9cwvvZkIZ
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) October 5, 2016

But there was plenty more to the debate. What appeared to be a flub from the Republican National Committee in posting stories declaring Pence the winner an hour and change before the debate even began drew some on-point Back to the Future references.

AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT

Marty and Doc told them Pence won. But only after they were detained by TSA at the Lone Pine Mall. https://t.co/adAQmkLmPl
— John McGauley (@JohnMcGauley) October 5, 2016

GOP's Back-From-The-Future-To-Bring-Us-Back-To-The-Past time-travel strategy gave Biff, um Pence, the winning debate answers? #VPDebate
— Greg Andree (@GregAndree71) October 5, 2016

Many more joined in the fun.

The #vpdebate is basically going to be Fozzie Bear vs. Sam the Eagle pic.twitter.com/YQT4gGs1Gc
— JP's in Line @ NYCC (@jp_polewczak) September 27, 2016

Remember the #VPDebate livetweeting rules: Automatic red flag for any use of the word "dad" as a prefix or "normcore" as anything.
— Ned Resnikoff (@resnikoff) October 4, 2016

Bonus points go to whichever candidate goes full Adm. Stockdale in their #VPDebate opening statement https://t.co/V7vc2OMcEE
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) October 4, 2016

Prepping for the #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/YTqVLS6W9c
— Rachael Berkey (@bookoisseur) October 4, 2016

The winner of this debate? The Voyager 1 probe, racing from the solar system at 37,000 mph. #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/0hZSFwWhh0
— Dammit, I just (@StevenEveral) October 5, 2016

Moderator Elaine Quijano got some love for her refusal to be interrupted or talked over.

Pretty accurate summary of the #VPDebate: pic.twitter.com/BvBtbiuX5f
— Philip Lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) October 5, 2016

All hail @Elaine_Quijano, who survived and won the #VPDebate.
— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) October 5, 2016

If I wanted to watch two white dudes bicker near a woman named Elaine, I would definitely just watch Seinfeld.
— Maris Kreizman (@mariskreizman) October 5, 2016

And Mike Pence seemed destined to become a meme for a few turns of phrase that...didn't quite turn out the way he probably intended.

A few MINUTES a day on your knees, Pence? I guess yAAAAAAAUUUUUUGH IT'S TOO EASY I CAN'T. #VPDebate
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) October 5, 2016

"I try to spend a little time on my knees everyday" - @GovPenceIN #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/7C83jBmrY1
— Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) October 5, 2016

"I try to spend a little time every day on my knees."
"You whipped out that Mexican thing again."
This has taken an unexpected turn.
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) October 5, 2016

"You whipped out that Mexican thing again!" - I've said many times to my Mexican husband. ??? #VPDebate #ImWithHer
— Julie Benz (@juliebenz) October 5, 2016

Others were unamused by Pence's use of the phrase "that Mexican thing" in reference to some of Donald Trump's previous comments on Mexican immigrants.

Latino Twitter not happy w/ Pence. Pissed as hell w/ "You whipped out that Mexican thing" comment. Metio la pata. (Stuck his foot in mouth).
— Ana Navarro (@ananavarro) October 5, 2016

"You keep whipping out that Mexican thing."

Yeah, because it was really f'ing racist! #VPDebate
— Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) October 5, 2016

As a woman with a "Mexican thing," @timkaine is the only man on that stage who will give me the right to whip it out as I please. #VPDebate
— Grace Parra (@GraceParra360) October 5, 2016

That Mexican thing? Sir, you're lucky you left the stage before my mama's chancla hit you in the back of the head #VPDebate
— Rick Palacio (@RickPalacio) October 5, 2016

And of course, the presidential candidates themselves couldn't resist weighing in, as for once they weren't the ones in the hot seat.

Number of times Trump has tweeted at @Rosie: 65

Number of times Trump has tweeted in support of Mike Pence, his running mate: 21 #VPDebate
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 4, 2016

Yes, Trump and Pence are running an insult-driven campaign.

Donald's literally doing it right now. #VPDebate https://t.co/VZeBQ85nyH
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 5, 2016

"@Jnelson52722: @realDonaldTrump @Susiesentinel Kaine looks like an evil crook out of the Batman movies"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2016