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# The Buzziest Memes of the Mike Pence Fly Incident
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/fly-mike-pence-memes/
- Published: 2020-10-08T21:07:54.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:06:26.000Z
- Description: What do flies land on, again?
- Author: Valentina Di Liscia
- Tags: News, election, Memes, mike pence, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 09:08 (2019, 2020, part 3)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ejzeadewoairxph.jpg)

I wouldn’t even want to spend a few seconds in the presence of Mike Pence, but during last night’s first and only vice presidential debate, a pesky fly [perched calmly on his head](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/07/us/politics/the-fly-pence-head.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) for exactly two minutes.

Graciously, neither the moderator nor vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris pointed out the sneaky visitor, and Pence himself did not react to it. But the American public watching at home certainly noticed, and the memes started streaming faster than the time it took me to realize that “flies” rhymes with “lies.” (The Biden campaign caught on quickly, and started selling $10 [“Truth Over Flies” swatters](https://store.joebiden.com/truth-over-flies-fly-swatter/?ref=hyperallergic.com) right after the debate. Within hours, the nearly 35,000 buzzy souvenirs had completely sold out.)

It’s easy to be cynical about the fact that a tiny, insignificant insect may arguably be getting more media coverage than the important political issues at hand during the debate. But let’s face it: we are all tired and could use a comedic break. That’s why we’ve rounded up the Internet’s greatest reactions to, and hilarious personifications of, the mischievous arthropod who won America’s heart.

For any further inquiries, we refer you to [@MikePenceFly\_\_\_,](https://twitter.com/MikePenceFly%5F%5F%5F?ref=hyperallergic.com) who now has over 115,000 Twitter followers.

> “I just couldn’t stand by and listen to his lies any longer.” [pic.twitter.com/QCXUrEf4s0](https://t.co/QCXUrEf4s0?ref=hyperallergic.com)  
>  
> — Kyle Woods (@\_kywo) [October 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/%5Fkywo/status/1314028267762974721?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)

> Was this really you in 2016 also?? [pic.twitter.com/9Ctg2nEpzb](https://t.co/9Ctg2nEpzb?ref=hyperallergic.com)  
>  
> — aiernt (@aiernt) [October 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/aiernt/status/1314208393716924416?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)

> What if he just unzipped his face and suit and Pence was just a million flies?   
>  
> Would anyone be surprised at ALL?  
>  
> — Jean Grae (@JeanGreasy) [October 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/JeanGreasy/status/1314029385461137408?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)

> I sent the fly.  
>  
> Tell Pence.  
>  
> I want him to know it was me. [pic.twitter.com/J8qlzr8b8j](https://t.co/J8qlzr8b8j?ref=hyperallergic.com)  
>  
> — Lana Del Gay 🏳️‍🌈👻✨ (@McClellandShane) [October 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/McClellandShane/status/1314036793243770886?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)

> LET THE FLY SPEAK[#VPDebate](https://twitter.com/hashtag/VPDebate?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)  
>  
> — Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) [October 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/OmarJimenez/status/1314027819199016964?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)

> the fly ? that's antifa  
>  
> — morgoblin sung (@morgan\_sung) [October 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/morgan%5Fsung/status/1314027756783497216?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)

> If that fly laid eggs in Mike Pence's hair he better fucking carry them to full term.  
>  
> — Irishrygirl (@irishrygirl) [October 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/irishrygirl/status/1314201978398887936?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)

> Swats away flies and lies. Get yours today: [https://t.co/ehsECKfDPO](https://t.co/ehsECKfDPO?ref=hyperallergic.com) [pic.twitter.com/oVLHHmq85c](https://t.co/oVLHHmq85c?ref=hyperallergic.com)  
>  
> — Team Joe (Text JOE to 30330) (@TeamJoe) [October 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/TeamJoe/status/1314041430382272514?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)

> Pitch in $5 to help this campaign fly. [https://t.co/CqHAId0j8t](https://t.co/CqHAId0j8t?ref=hyperallergic.com) [pic.twitter.com/NbkPl0a8HV](https://t.co/NbkPl0a8HV?ref=hyperallergic.com)  
>  
> — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) [October 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1314031047013732352?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)

> Kris Jenner works hard but the Biden digital team works harder [https://t.co/JoPJ3AtcZB](https://t.co/JoPJ3AtcZB?ref=hyperallergic.com)  
>  
> — Lily Herman (@lkherman) [October 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/lkherman/status/1314045148737802241?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)