Conservatives mocked criticism of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s son-in-law, Republican congressional candidate Michael Alfonso, over old Venmo payments with suggestive captions, arguing the notes were being taken too literally as Alfonso called the criticism "wildly dishonest" and turned it into a fundraising pitch.A post from the DNC’s social media account, FactPost, went viral this week after highlighting Venmo payments Alfonso made with notes reading "The strippers" and "High supplies." Alfonso responded by sharing screenshots of the payments and saying the captions were jokes."It’s wildly dishonest to leave out the part where the ‘strippers’ were $5 because—brace yourself—they obviously weren’t actual strippers.You can write literally anything in a Venmo note.
This is called a joke—something the humorless left is incapable of comprehending," he wrote.TRUMP-BACKED MICHAEL ALFONSO WINS CROWDED GOP PRIMARY FOR HIS FATHER-IN-LAW'S FORMER WISCONSIN SEATFirst Lady Melania Trump, Michael Alfonso, President Donald Trump and Evita Duffy-Alfonso are seen in this photo.On Tuesday, Aug.
11, 2026, Alfonso won the Republican nomination in the race for Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District.(Alfonso for Wisconsin)"Patriots: I would be very grateful for $5 or any amount you can contribute to my campaign.
None of the proceeds go to strippers or high supplies—only toward defeating the radical left in November," he wrote.The exchange sparked a broader discussion about Venmo payment captions and the joking or unserious descriptions users may attach to payments, with conservatives arguing that Alfonso’s critics were reading too much into the notes."I have no idea if there is anything here.I do know that literally not one of my male friends has ever—ever—sent me a Venmo payment with a description that wasn't a joke," said National Review editor Charles C.W.
Cooke."People thinking the Venmo comment line is an actual audit trail," wrote Wisconsin S...