Vice President JD Vance made a major mistake during an economic speech in Ohio when he compared fixing the economy to turning around the Titanic. Someone should have checked the history of that ship before using it as an example, because this comparison went down as badly as the ship itself.
According to The Daily Beast, the 41-year-old vice president faced heavy criticism on social media after making the strange comparison while speaking in Toledo, Ohio. He was there to promote the Trump administration’s economic policies. Standing in front of a large banner that promised “lower prices” and “bigger paychecks,” Vance blamed the current affordability crisis on the previous administration.
Vance was trying to explain that fixing the economy takes time, especially after the problems they inherited. He said, “We know there is still so much work to do, and this is something I want you to hear: the Democrats talk a lot about the affordability crisis in the United States of America. And yes, there is an affordability crisis, one created by Joe Biden’s policies.”
The Titanic comparison reveals a serious gap in historical awareness
Then came the line that immediately went viral: “You don’t turn the Titanic around overnight. It takes time to fix what was broken.” This is a terrible historical mistake. The Titanic never successfully turned around. It hit an iceberg in 1912 and sank, killing over 1,500 people. Even if someone missed the history books, everyone knows the famous 1997 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet shows the ship sinking and one of the stars freezing to death.
High-profile Democrats quickly criticized the comment online. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker pointed out the obvious, posting that “You don’t turn the Titanic around AT ALL.” California Governor Gavin Newsom referenced the movie’s most famous scene, saying, “Too late, JD. We’re all just trying to get on the raft with Kate now.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul simply asked, “Wait what happened to that ship again.” Florida Democrat Jared Moskowitz tried to finish Vance’s statement for him, noting that you don’t turn the ship around “Or at all as history showed.”
Commentators were equally confused by the choice of comparing the economy to a ship disaster. One liberal commentator wondered, “Does… does he know what happened to the Titanic?” Another asked, “He chose a sinking ship for his analogy?” A former Obama adviser turned podcast host said that “‘Vance compares the Trump economy to the Titanic’ is a very funny headline.” This isn’t the first time the vice president has made headlines for his parenting struggles and candid moments.
The vice president’s office didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Despite the mistake, the Trump administration remains focused on addressing concerns about the rising cost of living ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
President Trump, age 79, is set to travel across the country to meet voters and discuss the economy. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told reporters that the tour will start in Iowa next Tuesday. The renewed focus comes amid ongoing tensions within Trump’s White House as the administration tries to show voters they are working to fix the economic situation.
Published: Jan 23, 2026 02:35 pm