A grotesque mural depicting Vice President J.D. Vance as a disturbing baby-like figure has transformed a Philadelphia street corner into an unlikely pilgrimage site, drawing visitors from across Pennsylvania and beyond. The artwork, painted on the exterior wall of Sulimays restaurant in the Fishtown neighborhood, reimagines Vance through the lens of a viral internet meme that has haunted the vice president for nearly a year.
The mural was created by FUBAR PAC, founded by Philadelphia native and Air Force veteran Jack Inacker, who describes himself as an "expert hater" on the organization's official website. Using $300, 12 hours of work, and what Inacker calls "a dream," the group transformed the corner of Berks Street and E. Girard Avenue into a colorful monument of political mockery. The Political Action Committee previously made headlines when they organized a Tesla-smashing demonstration protesting Elon Musk's development of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The artistic interpretation features Vance rendered in unbelievably blue tones, with a cobalt backdrop highlighting his cartoonishly misshapen head and scraggly painted beard. The mural's most striking feature is undoubtedly the eyes – pale blue orbs framed by what appears to be natural "emo eyeliner" that seem to follow viewers regardless of their position. The shading technique resembles heat maps that grow darker toward the bottom, creating an ominous effect that suggests "even more danger" below Vance's shoulders.
The image draws from an infamous infantilizing meme that first appeared on X (formerly Twitter) in late 2024, just before the presidential election. This Benjamin Button-esque political caricature has followed Vance internationally, appearing on the Irish parliamentary floor, English vans, and billboards during his visits to the United Kingdom. The meme's persistence has reportedly become such a sensitive issue that one Norwegian tourist claimed it led to his denial of entry into the United States, though U.S. Homeland Security officials have refuted this claim.
Since the mural's completion over the weekend, it has attracted a steady stream of visitors treating it as a sacred site of political satire. During one observer's visit on a gloomy Monday afternoon, multiple passing cars slowed down to photograph the artwork. Among the visitors was a middle-aged couple who had driven more than three hours from their Pennsylvania hometown to drop their son off at Temple University, deliberately planning their route to include the mural. "Fucking hilarious," the woman proclaimed while taking a selfie with the painting.
Another visitor, 54-year-old Loren, incorporated the mural into his regular walking route from Center City, explaining his philosophy: "As long as he hates it, I love it." The site has attracted people of all apparent ages, ethnicities, and fashion styles, who circle around for cheerful photos before continuing their day. The mural sits directly adjacent to an intricate, beautifully crafted mural of the Philadelphia 76ers logo, creating an unlikely artistic juxtaposition.
Sulimays restaurant was among the first small businesses to volunteer wall space after Inacker put out a public call on Reddit. Restaurant operator Chad Todd, who identifies himself as "owner, chef, antagonist," explained his motivation via Instagram: "I can't be complicit and not do anything about the havoc this administration is wreaking simply because it's not happening to me." Both Inacker and Sulimays report that the response has been overwhelmingly positive and much larger than anticipated, though some pushback has occurred.
Regarding critics, Sulimays maintains a defiant stance: "These poor brainwashed people saying they will never eat here! I don't care. If I wanted them to eat here, I'd put pictures on the menu." The restaurant's attitude reflects Philadelphia's broader cultural identity, as one local visitor named Kara noted: "I guess if Virginia is for lovers, Philly is for haters." This sentiment captures what many see as the city's spiritual contract – recognizing that love cannot exist without its opposite.
Inacker views the mural as both entertainment and political commentary, explaining that while Philadelphia may be a "city of murals," it's also a "city of haters." He wanted to contribute to that tradition with what he calls "some dumb bullshit that both titillates and seeks to expose people to some of the actual, terrible harms that Trump's administration is causing." The PAC founder believes that while "J.D. Vance gets a lot of hate," it's "not enough" and "we can do better."
The project represents Philadelphia's time-honored tradition of political mockery, joining the ranks of local customs like climbing greased poles and booing their own sports teams' players. For Philadelphians, making a mockery of what they see as kakistocracy serves as both entertainment and civic duty. As Inacker cryptically promised in a follow-up email, the mural may evolve further: "Wait til we start adding hats for Halloween," suggesting that the viral artwork's journey as a destination for political pilgrimage is far from over.
