If you saw the State of the Union address last night–President Obama’s last–then you may have noticed Speaker of the House Paul Ryan sitting stonefaced no matter what the President said. I’m convinced President Obama could have declared that the GOP was right and he was wrong and Ryan’s expression wouldn’t have changed.
Prior to the speech, Ryan had commented:
“I probably should practice in the mirror. I need to get the whole poker-face thing down. I need to be real stoic.”
Others noticed his stoicism, too, and Twitter lit up with scorn and hilarity. Here’s some of the things social media had for the Speaker of the House:
Only now do I appreciate John Boehner’s ability to put on a poker face. Paul Ryan can’t do it.
— Taegan Goddard (@politicalwire) January 13, 2016
Paul Ryan Quietly Doing Seated Ab Exercises Throughout State Of The Union https://t.co/a1PXsx1EvH #SOTU pic.twitter.com/PAszYhtbu2
— The Onion (@TheOnion) January 13, 2016
I didn’t think it was possible but Paul Ryan’s smirky face makes me miss John Boehner’s orange face #SOTU
— Quinn Sutherland (@ReelQuinn) January 13, 2016
Paul Ryan's muted, flickering facial expressions are an inscrutable argot all their own. #SOTU
— Frank Bruni (@FrankBruni) January 13, 2016
Quick! Can someone call 911 and direct an ambulance to the Capitol? Paul Ryan is motionless, may have fallen unconscious.
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) January 13, 2016
Looks like @SpeakerRyan would rather chaperon a Six Flags field trip with El Chapo than listen to more of this speech. #SOTU
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) January 13, 2016
When the Capri Sun straw breaks and you didn't even pierce the pouch. pic.twitter.com/UgHmHGcNNd
— Reyda (@MsReyda) January 13, 2016
paul ryan, are you being held against your will? blink twice if you're okay. stare straight forward and do nothing if you need rescuing.
— Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) January 13, 2016
Can't even get a "let's cure cancer!" applause out of Paul Ryan.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) January 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/AnandWrites/status/687101188999933958
Obama should really try to test Paul Ryan's no-applause policy here: "Puppies are cute."
"Hitler was bad."
"P90X is effective."— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) January 13, 2016
Paul Ryan simply is experiencing Botox gone bad. He's been trying to cheer wildly.
— Dan Primack (@danprimack) January 13, 2016
This is what Paul Ryan is thinking about right now… pic.twitter.com/wHxJ4N4pJC
— Eric Stangel (@EricStangel) January 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/gilbertjasono/status/687098505853333504
The resemblance is frightening. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/vjOuxlVZYy
— Dwayne David Paul (@DwayneDavidPaul) January 13, 2016
Hey, Paul. You need to work on the poker face. You just look lifeless. And yes, we all noticed.
Featured Image Via Screenshot from NBC
