This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Jason Tsoi. Find him on Instagram at @jason.tsoi. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
In the age of social media, people can instantly turn anything you say or do into a meme. Popularized by Gen Z and Millennials, memes have become a universal form of communication and self-expression. But memes have also become a way for the youth to engage in politics. In this presidential election cycle, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have been the face of popular memes that have resonated with potential young voters. As Election Day draws closer, let’s look back at the best 2024 election memes, in no particular order, that have defined the political landscape so far.
‘You Think You Just Fell Out of a Coconut Tree?’
With a history of memes under her belt, Harris’ “coconut tree” meme asserted itself as the most recognizable meme of her presidential campaign thus far. The meme originated from a May 2023 swear-in ceremony, where she spoke to members of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics. During her speech, Harris remarked on the need to provide resources for young people, as well as taking into account the needs of their families and communities. The vice president went on to recall a saying from her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan.
“My mother … would give us a hard time sometimes, and she would say to us, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?’” the vice president said. “You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.”
Moments after President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race and Harris’ upheaval to the democratic nomination, the viral quote resurfaced across social media. The once ridiculed line became a unifying factor for Harris supporters. Supporters quickly rallied around the vice president by adding coconut and coconut tree emojis next to their profile names. From TikTok to X, many users created “coconut tree” memes, referencing the line from the vice president’s speech. And some took to social media to dub Harris’ laugh and line over songs, including Ariana Grande’s “nasty,” Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” and SZA’s “Open Arms.”
‘Fight’
On July 13, an assailant shot Trump in an attempted assassination while he was delivering a speech at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. A bullet grazed the former president in his right ear, and the Secret Service immediately covered him. As they escorted him to safety, a bloodied Trump lifted his fist in the air, chanting the word, “Fight.” That’s when Evan Vucci, a photographer for the Associated Press, captured the viral photo.
The image instantly became the face of the Trump campaign and soared in popularity among supporters throughout social media. The chant became a rallying cry for Trump supporters as the crowd shouted it numerous times at the Republican National Convention (RNC), which commenced two days after the attempted assassination.
“The amazing thing is that prior to the shot, if I had not moved my head at that very last instant, the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark, and I would not be here tonight,” the former president said in a speech on the final night of the RNC. “We would not be together.”
Moments after the assassination attempt, t-shirt sales, displaying the political photo, drastically increased on Amazon. And as of today, the Trump campaign continues to capitalize on the image by selling their own merchandise.
‘Kamala IS Brat’
Just days after Biden’s departure from the race, singer-songwriter Charli XCX made a post on X stating, “Kamala IS brat.” The singer-songwriter made the post over a month after the release of her latest album, “brat” and amidst the popular “brat summer” trend on social media. In a TikTok video, the singer-songwriter explained the meaning of “brat.”
“You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes…,” the singer-songwriter said. “A little bit volatile. Like, does dumb things. But it’s brat. You’re brat. That’s brat.”
Following Charli XCX’s post, the Harris social media campaign, Kamala HQ, embraced the trend, changing their header on X to the aesthetic of the “brat” album cover — a lime green background with their social media campaign name in “brat” font. The vice president rapidly moved into the spotlight of the “brat summer” trend as users on TikTok posted videos of Harris, using Charli XCX’s “365” and “360.” Many of the videos featured a culmination of Harris’ viral moments, such as the “coconut tree,” “We Did It, Joe” and “Big Sister General” memes, while also incorporating the aesthetics of “brat.”
‘They’re Eating the Pets’
Finally, after the presidential debate, moments from the debate went viral on social media, including a baseless claim that Trump made about Haitian immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. The false narrative began when Erika Lee, a Springfield resident, made a Facebook post, reporting that her neighbor’s cat went missing. In the post, Lee relayed her neighbor’s belief that the cat was attacked by her Haitian neighbors, according to NBC News. The rumor was later debunked, and the post was taken down, but Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, continued to run with the false narrative.
“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats,” the former president said. “They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”
Thousands of Haitian immigrants have settled in the once calm Ohio town, making it their home as they seek job opportunities. But after the debate, the town saw a rise in bomb threats at schools, leading to the cancellation of public events and fear among the Haitian community.
In response to Trump’s false statement at the presidential debate, many users went on TikTok, posting viral videos of their pets “reacting” to the former president’s baseless claims. Many of the videos showcased cats and dogs, giving a concerned look towards the camera after hearing the bizarre remark.
What is your favorite 2024 presidential election meme so far and why? Let us know in the comments.
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