JD Vance Feels 'Awful' About Awkward Donut Shop Visit | HuffPost Latest News

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance is speaking out about his recent visit to a donut shop in Valdosta, Georgia .

And guess what? Hes not happy about it either.

Last week, the Ohio senator stopped by Holts Sweet Shop to do one of those politician-greets-the-people meetings that are supposed to show a candidate in a natural everyday setting.

But the visit proved awkward cringey even because an employee behind the counter either didnt know she was speaking to a person who could one day be first in line to the presidency or just didnt care.

One thing she did care about, however, was not being filmed while Vance struggled over what donuts to buy, ultimately telling the woman to pick whatever makes sense.

Heres a clip to refresh your memory.

JD Vance had a very awkward visit to a donut shop in Georgia earlier. Trust us, its worse than you even think. pic.twitter.com/Fnohh0bKUf

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JD Vance had a very awkward visit to a donut shop in Georgia earlier. Trust us, its worse than you even think. pic.twitter.com/Fnohh0bKUf
MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) August 22, 2024

The exchange went viral for all the wrong reasons, and Vance admitted to NBC News on Tuesday that hes not happy with how things went mostly because of how it affected the employee who didnt want to be on camera in the first place.

I just felt terrible for that woman, Vance said. We walked in, and theres 20 Secret Service agents, and theres 15 cameras, and she clearly had not been properly warned, and she was terrified, right? I just felt awful for her.

This hasnt been Vances only awkward encounter with average Americans.

Last week, he tried joking with a Wisconsin deli owner by asking him if he had any food he didnt really like before quipping, Well take some and feed it to the journalists on the plane.

Despite inducing social media cringe, Vance told NBC News that he actually enjoys meeting people and that his interactions with them are real.

We dont [have] to have these scripted events I dont want to go and do three takes of buying Doritos at a Sheetz , he said, referring to a recent stop Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris made with running mate Tim Walz at the convenience store chain .

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I like to get out there and talk to people, Vance added, but emphasized that he wants his staff to set up meetings better.

We want to make sure were doing it, but definitely make sure that people are at least OK with being on camera, or were going to walk in and youre going to have a person who has, practically, a panic attack because shes got 15 cameras in her face, he said.