A viral video shared on Facebook purports to show 2024 Republican Vice Presidential nominee and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance preaching Bible verses on the Oprah Winfrey Show as a teenager.

Verdict: False

The claim is false. The original video, uploaded to the Oprah Winfrey Network’s verified YouTube channel in March 2016, shows child preacher Duffey Strode, not Vance.

Fact Check:

Vance visited the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona on August 1, according to Reuters. During his visit, Vance said Vice President Kamala Harris has “done nothing” to combat the issue of immigration and migrant crossings, the outlet reported.

The Facebook video, which has received 13,000 likes as of writing, purports to show Vance preaching Bible verses on the Oprah Winfrey Show as a teenager. The video features a young boy wearing a light-colored suit coat and red tie shouting Bible verses as an in-studio audience looks on. “And I think he still just says things because people tell him to..,” the video’s caption reads.

The claim is false. The original video, uploaded to the Oprah Winfrey Network’s verified YouTube channel in March 2016, shows Strode, not Vance. The 0:53-timestamp of the YouTube video matches the clip shared on Facebook, which features Strode shouting Bible verses.

“In the late ’80s, the Strode family of Marion, North Carolina, became infamous for striking fear in the heart of their town. Their son Duffey, who started preaching at age 5, could be found screaming Bible verses at the top of his lungs on school grounds. His parents eventually decided to homeschool their children after Duffey was suspended from school multiple times and a petition suggesting the family should leave town received nearly 500 signatures, according to The Washington Post,” the video’s description reads.

Likewise, Check Your Fact did not find any credible news reports suggesting the video showed a young Vance. Actually, the opposite is true. On August 1, Snopes reported the claim was false, and the video featured Strode. In addition, Vance has neither referenced the claim on his website nor his verified social media accounts. (RELATED: Harris Campaign Claims Video Shows J.D. Vance Endorsing Project 2025)

Check Your Fact has contacted Vance’s office for comment.