A viral rumor alleging that Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance had sex with a couch originated from a social media user named 'Rick,' who described the joke as coming from a place of irreverence. The post, which falsely claimed that Vance's memoir 'Hillbilly Elegy' contained explicit references to such an act, gained significant attention, prompting fact-checks from the Associated Press and Snopes, although the AP later retracted its piece. Rick admitted he did not intend to spread misinformation but rather sought to mock Vance, inspired by a story from Hunter S. Thompson. Despite the absurdity of the claim, it has sparked widespread discussion, with searches for 'JD Vance couch' trending on Google. Vance has addressed the joke at public events, attempting to navigate the humor while also facing scrutiny over past controversial remarks. The situation has highlighted a shift in political discourse, with campaigns employing humor in their strategies, as seen with Vice President Kamala Harris responding to the meme.