A video of Wisconsin’s outgoing U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden sparked backlash against the Republican online after he refused to answer a reporter’s question about losing the election. On social media, users called the Wisconsin Republican a “sore loser” and made fun of him.
In the video, shared on X by Acyn, a reporter can be seen just outside the U.S. Capitol building trying to talk to Van Orden about the election he lost. The footage shows Van Orden saying that he’s “not interested” in the question. He then “shoos” the reporter away and gets on his motorcycle, riding off.
Between 2023 and 2026, Van Orden served as the representative for Wisconsin’s 3rd District. In the recent midterms, however, he was defeated by Democrat Rebecca Cooke. Cooke received around 52% of the vote, while the GOP candidate only managed to get a little under 46%.
During the campaign, Van Orden was criticized for using AI-generated images of Cooke, showing her saying things that the actual politician never said. While not illegal, the videos generated strong backlash against him.
Internet Criticizes Van Orden’s Attitude
Most people on X did not like Van Orden’s attitude when dealing with the reporter. One of the main reasons for that was that he sounded arrogant. One person wrote: “The arrogance is off the charts.” Another added: “Derrick Van Orden is a sore loser. It would have been epic if his stupid bike didn’t start.”
Many users also took jabs at the outgoing representative: “Be nice, it’s very difficult for him to ride a motorcycle and cry at the same time.” Others made fun of him for losing the election: “That’s what the voters told him: Shoo.”
Some folks also highlighted how they believed this was a stereotypical kind of behavior for GOP politicians. One person asked: “How do I instantly know his political affiliation?” It was a sentiment shared by others: “None of these GOP losers have any decorum or manners or decency. He looks ridiculous on that motorcycle too.”
Van Orden will be replaced by 38-year-old Rebecca Cooke in 2027, who previously ran for this seat unsuccessfully in 2022 and 2024. She has also served on the board of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
