Vice President JD Vance found himself keeping the fort at the White House on Wednesday, May 13, and compared the experience to the ultimate latchkey-kid movie.
As President Donald Trump touched down in Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Vance told reporters he sometimes feels like Macaulay Culkin in “Home Alone.”
“As you know, the President just landed in China a few hours ago,” Vance said. “I always, you may know that because of Secret Service protocols, that I don’t travel outside of the country with the President of the United States.
“So on days like today, I sometimes feel like Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone. I walk into the White House, and it’s very quiet, and no one’s there, and it takes me a second to realize exactly what’s going on.”
The line drew laughs from those in the room as Vance delivered it with a grin, leaning into the folly of roaming the mostly empty executive mansion while the boss handles one of the year’s biggest diplomatic events.
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Successive administrations have kept the president and vice president from traveling abroad together to protect the line of succession.
But Vance turned routine protocol into comedy gold, depicting himself padding through silent hallways like young Kevin McCallister.
Trump’s visit to China is the first U.S. presidential state visit in nine years. He touched down in Beijing on Wednesday evening local time and was met with a formal welcome ceremony that included military honors and flag-waving.
Over the next two days, he and Xi are expected to tackle a full agenda: trade imbalances, U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, the Iran conflict, and emerging issues such as artificial intelligence.
White House officials described the meetings as an opportunity to reset a relationship that has seen-sawed between cooperation and sharp rivalry.
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Trump brought along a group of American CEOs from major tech and manufacturing companies, showing a strong push on economic issues.
Back in Washington, Vance stepped into the acting president role without missing a beat. He held meetings on domestic priorities and followed live updates from the U.S. delegation in Beijing.
His lighthearted remark came during a wider briefing on the administration’s day-to-day operations.
The vice president, a father of young children, often mixes policy talk with pop culture references that land well with younger audiences and social media users.
Within minutes of the comments, clips spread online alongside the famous image of Culkin with his hands on his cheeks and his mouth open in surprise.
The Trump-Xi summit comes at a tense time internationally. Discussions on Iran are expected to focus on de-escalation efforts following recent exchanges.
Trade talks are likely to revisit tariffs and market access complaints that have long marked U.S.-China relations.
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Taiwan also remains one of the biggest flashpoints between Washington and Beijing. The U.S. continues to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons, a policy China has long condemned as interference in its internal affairs.
Chinese state media described Trump’s visit as a chance for “in-depth exchanges” on bilateral ties and global stability.
Both sides have signaled a desire to sustain communication channels open, even as they compete intensely in technology and influence across the Indo-Pacific.
Vance, who has built a reputation as a sharp critic of China in the past, stayed behind to manage affairs at home and provide continuity.
His “Home Alone” line didn’t overshadow the serious work underway, but it did give the news cycle a memorable moment.
