Vice President J.D. Vance, speaking as the commencement speaker at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation, warned graduates they could not boo him during his speech — a comment that sparked criticism on social media.

As per She Finds report, Vance opened his address by referencing recent instances where commencement speakers at other universities were booed for discussing artificial intelligence, a topic generating controversy among new graduates entering the workforce.

"You know, this is the only commencement speech that I'm giving this year, and so I've watched a few highlights of graduation speeches where this or that corporate leader will discuss artificial intelligence, AI, and be met with literal boos," Vance said. "Now, you can't boo me. I'm the vice president of the United States."


While some in the audience laughed at the remark, many on social media responded negatively. Critics called the comment "pathetic" and labeled it an example of entitlement.

"If you have to say it, then you don't command respect through leadership," one Instagram user wrote. "Respect is earned, not forced," another commented. "How sad is that?" a third user added.

Others challenged Vance's perceived sense of special status. "He literally works for the people and if they don't like what he's saying they have the right to let him know," wrote one commenter.

The exchange came amid heightened sensitivity around AI discussions on college campuses, with speakers at the University of Central Florida, University of Arizona, and Middle Tennessee State University previously facing boos over their remarks on the subject.

Vance also recently received criticism over his statement on the death of an 18-year-old university student who was handcuffed while dying from a stab wound.

According to NPR, the VP who has developed a friendship with Lammy despite political differences, posted on social platform X that there should be "righteous anger" over the killing, which he partly attributed to "the mass invasion of migrants, many of whom despise the West and the people who love it."

Britain's Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister David Lammy said Sunday he told U.S. Vice President JD Vance that it was wrong to blame immigration for the incident
.
Lammy said he confronted Vance during a "robust" phone call Saturday, challenging the facts Vance cited in connection with the December murder of Henry Nowak in Southampton, England.

"We had an agreeable conversation because we have got a relationship, but I wanted to make him clear that I disagree with some of the facts that he was asserting and to present the facts to him," Lammy told Sky News.

Nowak was fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old Sikh man who was convicted this week of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years.

Lammy pushed back, emphasizing that Digwa is British and the case "has got nothing to do with mass migration."

The murder has been seized on by anti-immigration activists in the U.K., sparking protests in Southampton during which police were attacked with chairs, rocks and flares. Far-right figures also attended demonstrations.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating how police handled the incident, during which Nowak was handcuffed while dying at the scene.

Mark Nowak, the victim's father, said the case should not be used to fuel division or hatred, calling instead for safer streets.

Lammy said he reminded Vance about the family's wishes and urged him not to tweet comments that could deepen societal divisions.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office issued a statement Friday, as per AP News, condemning attempts by outsiders to interfere in British democracy and stir unrest on the streets.