Vance is rightfully furious. The press is working night and day to smear him.
But the Leftist media has egg on their faces after being caught in this lie about JD Vance.
JD Vance’s Vatican Visit: Clearing Up the Sistine Chapel Photo Controversy
Vice President JD Vance found himself at the center of a media storm following his visit to the Vatican, with critics alleging he committed a major misstep by allowing photos inside the Sistine Chapel. The iconic space, adorned with Michelangelo’s masterpieces like “The Creation of Adam,” is famously off-limits for photography, with vigilant guards ready to confiscate devices from tourists caught snapping pictures.
Yet, a source close to Vance’s travel team revealed to The Daily Wire that the Vatican granted explicit permission for the vice president’s official photographer to capture images during the visit, debunking claims of a protocol breach.
The controversy erupted after a striking photo surfaced, showing Vance gazing at the breathtaking frescoes while holding his young son. Shared on Easter Sunday by Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who called it “An epic shot of Vice President JD Vance and his son inside the Sistine Chapel,” the image quickly spread across social media. Its viral reach drew scrutiny from those aware of the chapel’s strict no-photography rule, prompting a wave of critical headlines.
An epic shot of Vice President JD Vance and his son inside the Sistine Chapel. What an incredible way to spend Easter weekend. pic.twitter.com/HldQVtcN93
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 20, 2025
The Daily Beast led the charge with a story titled “JD Vance Ripped for Embarrassing Gaffe During Vatican Visit,” labeling the incident a “cardinal sin” and suggesting it was a White House publicity stunt gone wrong.
People Magazine joined in, asking, “Photo of J.D. Vance Inside Sistine Chapel Sparks Backlash. Did He Break Vatican Protocol?” The Daily Mail added fuel to the fire, proclaiming, “JD Vance sparks fury by breaking Vatican protocol.”
However, the narrative of a diplomatic blunder doesn’t hold up. Andrew Kolvet, a spokesman for Kirk, took to “X” to set the record straight, pointing out that the Vatican not only permitted Vance’s team to photograph the visit but also released video footage of the tour.
Kolvet noted that similar allowances were made for other high-profile visits, including former First Lady Michelle Obama’s 2009 trip to the Vatican. Historical records also show Bill and Hillary Clinton, as well as former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, being photographed admiring the Sistine Chapel’s frescoes during their respective visits.
Vance’s Vatican stop was part of a three-day Holy Week journey to Italy, which included attending a Good Friday service at St. Peter’s Basilica and Easter Sunday mass at the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. During the trip, he met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Pope Francis, and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Tragically, Pope Francis passed away the day after their meeting. Reflecting on the encounter, Vance told reporters in Agra, India, “When I saw him, I didn’t know that he had less than 24 hours still on this earth. I think it was a great blessing.”
The swift assumptions about Vance’s conduct in the Sistine Chapel highlight the challenges of navigating public perception in the age of instant outrage. While critics were quick to paint the vice president’s actions as a cultural misstep, the reality—backed by Vatican approval—tells a different story.
The photo, far from a scandal, captures a moment of awe and connection, shared between a father, his son, and one of humanity’s greatest artistic treasures.
This incident is just one example of a persistent pattern where certain media outlets, often aligned with leftist ideologies, seize on minor or fabricated issues to tarnish the reputation of Vice President Vance and the Trump administration.
These outlets frequently amplify misleading narratives, framing routine actions as scandals to fuel public outrage and undermine the administration’s credibility. The Sistine Chapel photo controversy, for instance, was propelled by assumptions rather than evidence, with headlines crafted to provoke rather than inform.
The rush to condemn Vance without verifying the Vatican’s permissions reflects a deeper agenda to portray the Trump administration as reckless or disrespectful on the global stage. This tactic is not new—similar distortions have targeted the administration’s policies, public statements, and even personal moments, often ignoring context or contradicting facts.
By contrast, figures from previous administrations, like Michelle Obama or the Clintons, rarely faced such intense scrutiny for comparable actions, revealing a selective outrage that prioritizes political point-scoring over fairness.
The reliance on sensationalism over substance erodes trust in media and distracts from meaningful discourse. As the Trump administration navigates complex global and domestic challenges, these repeated attempts to manufacture controversy risk overshadowing substantive achievements. The Sistine Chapel episode serves as a reminder to approach such stories with skepticism, seeking out primary sources and context to cut through the noise of partisan narratives.
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