A questionable comparison
US economy resembles “Titanic”? Vance quote causes ridicule
Updated on January 23, 2026 – 11:15 amReading time: 2 minutes
To explain American economic policy, Donald Trump’s deputy refers to what is probably the most famous shipping disaster in history. Vance’s statement caused irritation online.
In a speech, Vice President JD Vance equated the US economy with, of all things, the sunken ship “Titanic.” Vance probably wanted to use the analogy to explain the current cost of living crisis in the United States, but it was met with ridicule from some Democrats and on social media.
“Democrats talk a lot about the affordability crisis in the United States of America. And yes, there is an affordability crisis caused by Joe Biden’s policies,” Vance initially said. Then follows the key quote: “The Titanic cannot be turned around overnight. It takes time to repair what is broken.”
“You DO NOT turn the Titanic AT ALL,” wrote Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on X. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who like Pritzker belongs to the Democratic Party, posted a mocking meme.
You can see a sequence of Vance’s speech, with music from the famous “Titanic” film with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio playing in the background. The meme also shows what is probably the most famous scene in the film at the bow of the ship. But instead of Jack and Rose, Vance and US President Donald Trump hug each other.
During his election campaign, Trump promised Americans a lower cost of living. But many complain about high prices in supermarkets, for example. Although Trump, as a former businessman, was considered to have competence in the field of economics, recent survey results show that popularity is dwindling here.
The Democrats are making the high costs for consumers in the USA an issue before the congressional elections in November. Trump accuses the Democrats of deliberately raising the issue.
The “Titanic” left Southampton, England on April 10, 1912 with more than 2,200 people on board for its maiden voyage to New York. After a few days, the luxury liner, which was considered unsinkable, hit an iceberg – and sank. More than 1,500 people died. At the end of the 1990s, James Cameron filmed the story with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio.
