WASHINGTON, July 22 — US President Joe Biden is ending his bid for re-election and endorsing his running mate US Vice-president Kamala Harris for president.
As expected, it didn’t take long for social media to react with that most popular mode of internet communication — memes.
Social media site X (formerly twitter) has quickly been inundated with clips, jokes and references to the TV show Veep where, in life imitating fiction, the protagonist US vice-president suddenly finds herself in the running for the top job when the president too steps aside.
This show. It’s always this show. pic.twitter.com/yfvOZA4vRG
— Candice Fortman (cande313.bsky.social) (@Cande313) July 21, 2024
According to Manya Koetse, founder and editor of What’s on Weibo, Chinese internet users have wasted no time finding the punny-ness of the situation:
Biden in Chinese is Bàidēng 拜登.Bye Bye is bài bài 拜拜So of course, you now see bài bài Bàidēng 拜拜拜登.#ByeByeBiden pic.twitter.com/CJSJkQjSaU
— Manya Koetse (@manyapan) July 21, 2024
They were also super quick at translating Biden’s statement into Mandarin and circulating it online:
Hmmm. Aging leader steps aside for the good of the country, foregoing another term in office. I can’t see how that could be in any way controversial in China. https://t.co/zMAXyEptSP
— Mike Forsythe 傅才德 (@PekingMike) July 21, 2024
While former US President Donald Trump has boasted that Harris would be ‘easier to beat’ and mocked her as ‘laughing Kamala’ due to her trademark full-throated laughs, the Internet decided ‘laughing Kamala’ is a great tagline actually.
He’s gonna have to step it up because “Laughing Kamala” just sounds like a badass Metal Gear Solid boss https://t.co/vZrCKGHZd8
— Paul Tassi (@PaulTassi) July 21, 2024
I’m a lifelong Republican, but Trump never laughs, he has no whimsy, Kamala now she has whimsy, my vote will go to Laughing Kamala
— Slazac (@TrueSlazac) July 21, 2024
this "laughing kamala" is an awful strategy for republicans bc when u see someone laugh, it automatically makes u feel happier. https://t.co/xEieZrDE5Z
— Ceros???? (@emoatypwarrior) July 21, 2024
The very strange and very funny X personality Chiitan is apparently running for president...despite being from Japan.
OKDon't worry, Chiitan will be running for presidentchiitan2024 pic.twitter.com/tXTgxZbv8d
— ちぃたん／Chiitan (@chiitan7407) July 21, 2024
Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty was also not safe from X memesters:
Joe Biden steps down pic.twitter.com/QvvajQAfIf
— Greggg Wallace (@GreggggWallace) July 21, 2024
Take a gander of some more of the best humorous reactions to the biggest news of the day:
https://t.co/i0NmWBrt4Z pic.twitter.com/lTLmtcRJfr
— Doc Strangelove (@DocStrangelove2) July 21, 2024
1. Joe Biden would only drop out if God told him to directly2. Joe Biden dropped out3. Therefore, God told him to directly4. Therefore, God exists???
— RK (Kate) (@rk_wiggs) July 21, 2024
Harris realizing Biden forgot to log out https://t.co/JJkOFhJ05N pic.twitter.com/Tk744aboC5
— Mike Scollins (@mikescollins) July 21, 2024
— Q-Cap (@qcapital2020) July 21, 2024
washington dc is in peak form pic.twitter.com/i8uFMwhZhj
— Josh Sorbe (@joshsorbe) July 21, 2024
The man knows his moment ???? https://t.co/fsPa3mZWk2 pic.twitter.com/oClKJTUisj
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) July 21, 2024
— Valley Boys Podcast (@valleyboyspod) July 21, 2024
Biden’s note is so powerful pic.twitter.com/3oG9W9mLGU
— Garrett Williams, BFA (@badboygargar) July 21, 2024
