Vice President JD Vance made headlines after being caught on a hot mic commenting on former President Donald Trump’s record-breaking address to a joint session of Congress. In a candid exchange with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Vance expressed confidence in the quality of Trump’s speech but appeared surprised by its expected length, saying, “I don’t know how you do this for 90 minutes.” Johnson responded with a jab at President Biden, criticizing the former administration’s speeches as campaign rhetoric. Their private conversation was quickly picked up by media, especially after Johnson realized too late that the microphone was still live.

Trump’s address ultimately lasted one hour and 40 minutes, surpassing the previous record held by Bill Clinton. While viewership reached an estimated 36.6 million—lower than Trump’s previous speeches—audience reactions were largely positive. A CBS News/YouGov poll showed that 76% of viewers approved of the speech, describing it as “presidential,” “inspiring,” and more “unifying” than divisive. Despite the decline in total viewers, especially compared to Trump’s first term, the speech was well-received among Republican audiences and reinforced Trump’s continued influence on the political stage. As Trump ramps up efforts for a return to the White House, both his powerful oratory and the off-the-cuff moments from figures like Vance are capturing public and media attention alike.