Why JD Vance Was Secretly Hospitalized Before Being Sworn In As Trump's VP

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JD Vance is nearly unrecognizable when you look at him before his rise to stardom. Side-by-side pics reminded us of how much he's changed since his military days. Additionally, Vance's stunning weight loss transformation showed how far he'd come in his fitness journey. However, before the Ohio native officially accepted his role as vice president, he had to improve another aspect of his health. Vance was hospitalized for sinus surgery on January 3, 2025, at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. It was already a busy day for Vance, since he was at Capitol Hill for a Senate swearing-in ceremony not too long prior to the procedure on the same day.

However, he likely managed to get some rest, as the operation — known as endoscopic sinus surgery — usually takes two hours to complete. But despite the initial secrecy surrounding Vance's hospital visit, spokesperson William Martin assured that the "Hillbilly Elegy" author's condition wasn't anything major. According to the Cleveland Clinic, patients typically turn to the procedure when medicine isn't effective against sinus issues like infection, blockage, nasal congestion, or other symptoms. Martin was confident that Vance would be able to return to his duties the day after the operation. The surgery had no bearing on Vance's nomination for vice president.

When it was first reported that JD Vance had been hospitalized for sinus surgery, many of the vice president's fans showed their support by offering him their thoughts and prayers. One poster was even impressed by Vance's ability to get back to work so soon after the operation. "JD Vance multitasking like a pro—sinus surgery today, back to work tomorrow," a user said on X, formerly Twitter. But not everyone was as impressed. Vance's critics saw the opportunity to make more jokes at his expense after learning about his procedure. "Clearly some Face/Off style operation that will make JD Vance Elon Musk, and Elon Musk JD Vance," one critic posted. "Brain surgery is never minor," another X user wrote. 

One netizen even poked fun at his eyeliner usage, which is a rumor Vance himself has been sending into overdrive. "Is he getting his eyeliner tattooed on?" the user said. But the jokes might explain why Vance didn't ever mention he was going to have sinus surgery sometime beforehand. Perhaps he knew how a segment of the internet would react to the news and wanted to avoid being roasted.