The most controversial 'Jeopardy! clue in years just aired and has fans divided and begging for change in the new season

‘Jeopardy!’s Most Controversial Clue in Years Just Aired and It Has Fans Divided

'Jeopardy!' host Ken Jennings standing at the podium, wearing a red tie and a gray jacket.

More and more frequently, political questions on Jeopardy! are sparking debates among the show’s fan base. Most recently, a clue referencing Vice President JD Vance seemed to elicit an eye-roll from one of the contestants. Now, fans are asking their own questions — should politics play a role on Jeopardy!? And if a contestant’s reaction reveals their personal views, should it be edited out or retaped? Should Jeopardy! be completely apolitical? Is that even possible?

On the June 10 episode of Jeopardy!, returning champion Jackie Rogoff was prompted with the clue “He dedicated Hillbilly Elegy to his Mamaw and Papaw, his ‘very own hillbilly terminators.’” Jackie correctly responded, “Who is JD Vance?” and her delivery was unmistakably laced with warranted disdain.

‘Jeopardy!’ Viewers Noted Jackie’s Disdain for JD Vance

Jeopardy! contestant Jackie Rogoff standing at the podium, smiling and wearing glasses and a gray blazer.

The moment quickly made its way to fan forums. On Reddit, one user noted: “In yesterday’s episode, Jackie had a noticeably (justified) derisive tone when responding to the JD Vance clue. It was just subtle enough not to be distracting but also obvious to those of us that felt the same way.” One commenter responded, “Another case of Jeopardy! normalizing clues about this administration and its practices. I don’t expect the show to go all-out and rebuke what they’re doing, but it would be nice if there weren’t so many happy-go-lucky clues about fascists.” Many agreed that they, like Jackie, would have responded with contempt.

Several participants in the discussion noticed that Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings also seemed to recoil at the clue about the vice president. “I heard it in Ken’s voice, too,” one comment read. And if Ken let his personal feelings slip through, it wouldn’t be the first time. Viewers listed out examples of previous clues that had induced eye-rolls from the host, including prompts about DOGE and disgraced Republican senator and convicted felon George Santos.

Ken Jennings Made His Political Views Clear on ‘Jeopardy!’ in 2004

Ken was installed as the host of Jeopardy! in 2022 after previously competing on the show as a contestant. He still holds the record for the show’s longest winning streak for his initial 74-day appearance, during which he won over 2.5 million dollars. A 2004 clip of Ken has resurfaced amidst this discussion about contestant reactions to political questions. In the clip, Ken picks a question from the “Businessmen” category and discloses, “I’m not really crazy about the category.” Beloved former host Alex Trebek asks, “You don’t like businessmen?” to which Ken responds with an amused smile: “I hate them all! Come the revolution, we’re going to string ’em up.”

Topics that are political in nature aren’t particularly rare on Jeopardy! A recent episode included a clue about self-proclaimed Nazi and alleged abuser Kanye West. On Reddit, one user lamented, “That’s the fourth Kanye clue this year. Make it stop.” Another added, “I’m not inherently against ever featuring bad living people in clues, but there’s an argument to be made that it would be better to feature those sorts of people less often.”

In another recent episode, Jeopardy! included a clue about neopronouns, which outraged some conservative viewers. One wrote: “I still watch Jeopardy every day, but their questions and answers keep getting weirder and weirder. When Alex Trebek was still alive, we never had any of this.” Another raged, “I will NEVER watch Jeopardy after this.” (I’m sure Ken Jennings is currently sobbing somewhere over this massive loss.)

Jeopardy! regularly covers trivia categories like history, geography, and current events, and consequently, the show is inherently political. Including (or not including) a clue about JD Vance and his poorly written book doesn’t shift the political landscape, but it does reflect it. Some fans have called for the exclusion of questions about right-wing political figures, worried that it runs the risk of normalizing the Trump administration. However, even if politics cease to exist on Jeopardy!, it doesn’t erase the harm Trump causes every day.