The Dumbest Photos From the 2024 Campaign Trail

Running for president typically involves politicians shamelessly pandering to potential voters in early primary and caucus states including Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, while surrounded by news cameras. Republicans seeking the party’s 2024 nomination face the added stress of trying to differentiate themselves from former President Donald Trump without pissing off Trump or his rabid supporters. This election cycle is going to be a shitshow, but it has already lead to some tremendous content, including many photos of rich, out-of-touch fascists holding babies and pies, riding motorcycles, and pretending to get their hair cut in regular barbershops.

Here are the dumbest, funniest, and most pander-y photos from the 2024 campaign trail so far. We will obviously absolutely be updating this list.

On a visit to Iowa, former Vice President Mike Pence and Mother Pence stared down a buffet of pizza, complete with buckets of salt and pepper. The two would later eat this pie of unknown freshness among some Iowans who apparently don’t want Pence hanged for his actions on January 6, 2021.

Here’s North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) in a vest bearing his name because no one knows who the fuck he is.

Male politicians kissing babies is shorthand for them being likeable, family guys. Here’s a photo of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) returning a squirming baby (she knows about him) to her mother; please note the face of the intense security guard in the background.

In another photo from Bloomberg, DeSantis is laughing so maniacally that it appears he’s about to eat the baby (we would’ve used this one, but we don’t have the rights to it). The security guard is looking even more concerned here, and directly at the camera.

Here’s Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) doing his obligatory baby photo op. This is exactly how I imagine a 57-year-old bachelor who went on about his virginity until he was roughly 40 would hold an infant.

Whoever found this freedom garment for former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley was probably very proud of themselves.

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst (R) hosted a “Roast and Ride” event on June 3, which resulted in Pence assaulting our eyes with his patch-speckled vest. The mere sight of it is so ridiculous it immediately spawned memes.

DeSantis and his wife, Casey, also attended Sen. Ernst’s event and Casey wore a ridiculous leather jacket bearing a photo of the state of Florida and an alligator on the back with the words “where woke goes to die.” The look is a reminder that her fashion is less Camelot than it is fascist Disney princess.

Here is biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who Forbes estimates is worth at least $630 million, getting a haircut in a barbershop, which is definitely where he gets his hair cut all the time, not in a fancy salon. We are all the kid on the right.

Trump, who famously prefers fast food over almost all types of cuisine, probably will not have so much as a bite of this pie, but he will pose with it while looking confused as to what it actually is.

I’m not sure why a tractor is being displayed indoors, but here is former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson standing in front of it.

“I welcome family and friends to my home to enjoy grilled meats all the time, and this is the face I make and the position I assume when that occurs.”

After now-former CNN anchor Don Lemon stupidly remarked that Haley “isn’t in her prime,” the Haley campaign made this even stupider beer koozie and apparently sold it at an event.