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Pence’s ‘potted-plant approach’ to Trump’s spat with Dems mocked in social media

by Morgan Gstalter - 12/11/18 2:13 PM ET

Vice President Pence’s posture during President Trump’s heated Oval Office battle with top Democrats on Tuesday was mocked by social media users who compared his stance to a potted plant.

Pence and President Trump sat down with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) to discuss government funding.

{mosads}The vice president remained quiet during Trump’s tense, 11-minute exchange with Pelosi and Schumer, which included Trump threatening a partial government shutdown if he is not granted money to build a border wall.

Social media users were quick to point out Pence’s posture during the spat, which included him closing his eyes and looking down at his hands.

Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro wrote on Twitter that the camera should “slow pan on Pence as ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ music plays.”

Slow pan on Pence as “Curb Your Enthusiasm” music plays pic.twitter.com/id9X4xXrKp

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 11, 2018

Scott Dworkin, an MSNBC contributor and founder of the anti-Trump Democratic Coalition, compared Pence to a young student in a 2nd grade holiday play.

Funny how Pence was in that meeting, but you wouldn’t notice. He was like an embarrassed little kid dressed as a Christmas tree, in a 2nd grade holiday play, with no lines.

— Scott Dworkin (@funder) December 11, 2018

Aaron Blake, a senior political reporter for The Washington Post, wrote that Pence was taking “the potted-plant approach” to the meeting.

Pence is taking the potted-plant approach to this meeting.

— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) December 11, 2018

Web comic Jon Rosenberg said he was glad “future President Pence is paying attention,” with a photo of Pence’s eyes closed.

Good to see future President Pence is paying attention pic.twitter.com/s97cL8o0Xz

— jon rosenberg: extra spite edition (@jonrosenberg) December 11, 2018

Many other Twitter users commented on Pence’s body language.

Pence handled that well, though pic.twitter.com/QOk4cDaSSV

— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) December 11, 2018

Pence checking his nonexistent watch for 2020 pic.twitter.com/UPE3xKbQSd

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) December 11, 2018

If you read Mike Pence’s lips here he’s repeating the Serenity Prayer like a mantra https://t.co/Wj2W8S1tZX

— Anne Helen Petersen (@annehelen) December 11, 2018

I’ll take some of whatever he’s having. pic.twitter.com/Im1lnJSiBt

— Meg Kinnard (@MegKinnardAP) December 11, 2018

Mike Pence in this meeting pic.twitter.com/HbzhKXKKgs

— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) December 11, 2018

When I go to dinner with my divorced parents. pic.twitter.com/taKTmDO3Qw

— Frank Pallotta (@frankpallotta) December 11, 2018

hello, if you call in a body language expert to analyze the trump/pence/pelosi/schumer meeting I will hire a ghost to haunt you

— Ariel Edwards-Levy (@aedwardslevy) December 11, 2018