Zyn, Rip It sponsor first enlisted VP debate
Zyn, Rip It sponsor first enlisted VP debate
"Who better to sponsor this historic debate than these two powerhouses of enlisted life?”
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Viewers of last night’s historic and first-ever Vice Presidential debate between two enlisted veterans — former Marine JD Vance and retired soldier Tim Walz — perhaps noticed that it was sponsored by two enlisted icons: Rip It energy drinks and ZYN nicotine pouches.
At a loud and raucous press conference at Rip It headquarters, spokesperson Matt Perkins, creator of the popular military TikTok account Sgt Zero Fux, celebrated his company’s promotional campaign for the VP debates in New York City on October 1.
Flanked by two JLTV tactical vehicles emblazoned with Rip It and ZYN logos and joined onstage by members of Five Finger Death Punch, Perkins told an audience mostly of enlisted military members and veterans how proud the two companies were to host the first-ever Vice Presidential debate between two former enlisted troops.
“In 2024, you can’t walk into a barracks, motor pool, or military classroom without seeing enlisted troops self-medicating with Rip It energy drinks and ZYN pouches,” said Perkins. “So, who better to sponsor this historic debate than these two powerhouses of enlisted life?”
For the first time in history, both Vice Presidential candidates from the two major parties, Democratic Governor Tim Walz and Republican Senator JD Vance, are former enlisted service members.
Vance, a military journalist in the Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007, including a tour in Iraq, is Donald Trump’s running mate on the Republican ticket.
Walz, a retired Command Sergeant Major Master Sergeant, served in the Army National Guard from 1981 to 2005.
Other potential sponsors included Copenhagen, Tabasco, Marlboro, and Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey.
A spokesperson from the Vance campaign questioned if Walz was familiar with Rip Its “since he never went to combat and all.”
In response, a Walz campaign spokesperson asked if Vance, a former Public Affairs Specialist, was “going to debate or just take pictures of other guys debating.”
The Defense Health Agency refused to comment.
Paul J. O’Leary is a retired Army First Sergeant who enjoys recreational axe throwing and writing and survives on way more coffee and social media than he’d care to admit. He likes his coffee and his humor dark and he believes everyone is entitled to his opinion.
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