President Obama waves goodbye after giving his final State of the Union on Tuesday. (Photo: Susan Walsh/AP)

Hours before taking his seat behind President Barack Obama for the State of the Union address, House Speaker Paul Ryan said he was planning on practicing his “poker face.”

SLIDESHOW – President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union address >>>

“I probably should practice in the mirror,” Ryan, who was elected as speaker in October, said Monday on MSNBC. “I need to get the whole poker-face thing down. I need to be real stoic.”

He wasn’t kidding.

Ryan’s face during Obama’s speech became a topic of conversation on Twitter, where many noted the Wisconsin Republican’s expressionless, often pained stare.





Only now do I appreciate John Boehner’s ability to put on a poker face. Paul Ryan can’t do it. — Taegan Goddard (@politicalwire) January 13, 2016

Paul Ryan, like Derek Zoolander, apparently has only one look. — Chris Cillizza (@TheFix) January 13, 2016

I didn’t think it was possible but Paul Ryan’s smirky face makes me miss John Boehner’s orange face #SOTU — Quinn Sutherland (@ReelQuinn) January 13, 2016

Paul Ryan Quietly Doing Seated Ab Exercises Throughout State Of The Union https://t.co/a1PXsx1EvH #SOTU pic.twitter.com/PAszYhtbu2 — The Onion (@TheOnion) January 13, 2016

Paul Ryan’s muted, flickering facial expressions are an inscrutable argot all their own. #SOTU — Frank Bruni (@FrankBruni) January 13, 2016

Quick! Can someone call 911 and direct an ambulance to the Capitol? Paul Ryan is motionless, may have fallen unconscious. — Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) January 13, 2016

Looks like @SpeakerRyan would rather chaperon a Six Flags field trip with El Chapo than listen to more of this speech. #SOTU — Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) January 13, 2016

When the Capri Sun straw breaks and you didn’t even pierce the pouch. pic.twitter.com/UgHmHGcNNd — Unfuckwittable. (@MsReyda) January 13, 2016

paul ryan, are you being held against your will? blink twice if you’re okay. stare straight forward and do nothing if you need rescuing. — Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) January 13, 2016

Paul Ryan now thinking about what he’s gonna sing at GOP secret karaoke tonight. Probably Night Ranger. — Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) January 13, 2016



Ryan’s refusal to applaud even the least partisan of Obama’s proposals did not go unnoticed.





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Paul Ryan came in with a no-clapping plan and by God, he’s sticking with it — Rosie Gray (@RosieGray) January 13, 2016

Can’t even get a “let’s cure cancer!” applause out of Paul Ryan. — Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) January 13, 2016

After curing cancer, we should cure the problem that prevents Paul Ryan’s hands from joining even for things he agrees with. #SOTU — Anand Giridharadas (@AnandWrites) January 13, 2016

Obama should really try to test Paul Ryan’s no-applause policy here: “Puppies are cute.” “Hitler was bad.” “P90X is effective.” — Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) January 13, 2016

Paul Ryan simply is experiencing Botox gone bad. He’s been trying to cheer wildly. — Dan Primack (@danprimack) January 13, 2016



Obama did manage to solicit a semi-laugh out of the 2012 GOP vice presidential nominee.





Here’s Paul Ryan trying reeeeally hard not to laugh at one of Obama’s jokes pic.twitter.com/gqekuYJ1BF — GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) January 13, 2016

Paul Ryan tried not to smile at that joke, finally did. — Steve Inskeep (@NPRinskeep) January 13, 2016



It wasn’t long before Ryan’s reaction became a meme of its own.





This is what Paul Ryan is thinking about right now… pic.twitter.com/wHxJ4N4pJC — Eric Stangel (@EricStangel) January 13, 2016

Biden Urges Paul Ryan To Check Out Nude Scene From ‘Porky’s’ On Phone https://t.co/UMcJxKfRta #SOTU pic.twitter.com/fvOnEqkcSx — The Onion (@TheOnion) January 13, 2016