Sailors told to ‘clap like you’re at a strip club’ upon visit from Mike Pence

A group of sailors in the United States Navy were told to ‘clap like you’re at a strip club’ for Mike Pence as he delivered a speech on 30 April.

What happened?

Pence spoke to the sailors as the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman was docked at the Naval Station in Norfolk, Virginia.

Journalist Brendan Ponton of WTKR-TV in Norfolk attended the event. He Tweeted about the request right before the speech began.

Sailors being instructed to “clap like we’re at a strip club” when VP arrives (not kidding) https://t.co/7NquC4wNxw pic.twitter.com/gUqYtOGiuc

— Brendan Ponton (@brendanponton) April 30, 2019

While the purpose was to make Pence look good in front of the media, it’s a bit ironic that the strip club analogy was used, considering Pence’s refusal to be alone with a woman who is not his wife. In addition, a group of uniformed men clapping for Pence as if he were a stripper seems to be in contradiction with Pence’s anti-LGBTI beliefs.

Reactions

People on Twitter picked up on this irony too:

Would that be the “Magic Mike” variety of strip club for Mike Pence? pic.twitter.com/jUDHgGSMVd

— Tony Verow MD (@tonyver45) April 30, 2019

They were instructed to clap for you, “Like they were at a strip club”. What would mother say????? pic.twitter.com/jcAUjU7IdJ

— DCSTORM40 (@dcstorm123) April 30, 2019

Not often this @VP and “strip club” appear in the same tweet. https://t.co/ZHgqVroZiF

— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) April 30, 2019

QT: In other news. . . .

News Headline: “Sailors instructed to ‘clap like we’re at a strip club’ for Mike Pence.”
Shhhh.
Some of Pence’s evangelicals might hear you.
And want to know the strip club’s address.https://t.co/Pu8QYG9N5E pic.twitter.com/hixi5h0kc6

— Zay N. Smith (@ZaySmithQT) May 3, 2019

Hey Mike, someone finally clue you in on these?

Were you and Donald drawing straws to see who was going to get stuck addressing these folks?

Are you hoping they’ll clap for you like it’s a strip club? That turned you on, didn’t it?

— WTF (@chris73451067) May 3, 2019

See Also:

Pete Buttigieg and husband Chasten make the cover of TIME

Dem presidential hopefuls decline invite to anti-LGBTI Christian group summit

Mike Pence hits back at gay presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg’s call out