Vance trolled for ‘ugly wig’ Halloween costume, reveals why he did it

National PoliticsVice President JD Vance, seen here with son, Alec, dressed up as "Harry Potter" headmaster Albus Dumbledore for Halloween.Social media screen grabBy Tom Wrobleski | wrobleski@siadvance.comVice President JD Vance was trolled after dressing up as “Harry Potter” icon Albus Dumbledore for Halloween. “Hey guys, Vice President Dumbledore here with little Dobby the Elf,” Vance said while holding the newest addition to his family, baby Alec, in a video posted on social media. “Wishing you a Happy Halloween. Have fun, be safe, eat a lot of candy.”Happy Halloween everyone! https://t.co/RkEgQiT9xM— JD Vance (@JDVance) October 31, 2026 Vance’s costume included a long silver wig that the New York Post said dredged up an episode from Vance’s past where the future veep was photographed done up in a wig, dress and makeup for a 2012 Halloween party, when Vance was in law school. Online critics jumped on Vance’s Dumbledore costume. “Any excuse to wear a wig,” one wrote. “We’ve gone from ridiculous to downright pathetic,” wrote another. “But then again, when you’ve been humiliated and have absolutely no solutions to offer, you resort to utterly absurd wordplay. The irony is that you’re the one making a complete fool of yourself.”Vance explained the costume during a GOP campaign rally in New York on Monday. “People said, why did you go as Dumbledore?” the veep related. “I said, well because I lost a bet with my children. That’s why. Why else would a grown man dress up in an ugly wig, which was very uncomfortable, by the way.”Vance quipped, “I looked more like an Iranian sheik than an American vice president in that costume. But we had a good time.”"I looked more like an Iranian sheik than I did an American vice president in that costume." Vice President JD Vance jokes about his Dumbledore Halloween costume that he says he was forced to wear after losing a bet with his children. https://t.co/9NRT8GnYCD— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 2, 2026 Others criticized Vance, saying that that Iran does not have sheiks. But others online applauded Vance for dressing up for his kids. “Do you know how many US dads do this exact same thing because..... they are f--king dads? STFU,” one wrote online, per the Daily Mail. “Did you know October 31st is usually known as a fun holiday called Halloween? It’s where people dress up as things such as monsters, famous cartoons, and Harry Potter characters. It’s fun, you should learn more,” another quipped. A 1987 graduate of Fordham University's College at Lincoln Center, Tom began working at the Staten Island Advance in 1995. The native Staten Islander started his career at the Advance as a community board...