Recently, there was a lot of commotion on social media surrounding the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. In particular, there was a lot of talk about former Vice President Joe Biden and his appearance. One Twitter user decided to take things one step further by using the hashtag #Let’sGoBrandon to insult Biden. Although this hashtag was meant as an insult, it quickly took on a life of its own and became an unofficial slogan for the Trump campaign. #Let’sGoBrandon is actually just a code word for “I think Joe Biden is ugly.” It’s not an attack on Biden himself–just an expression of disdain for him. So, before you start hurling insults at Joe Biden in your tweets, be sure you know what #Let’sGoBrandon really stands for.
The Origins of the ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Meme
In early 2016, a meme called “Let’s Go Brandon” began circulating on social media. The image shows Biden with the caption “I just want to let you know, I’m still out there campaigning. You can let your ego and your hair down now.” The text of the meme is written in a mocking tone and is often used as an insult towards Biden, who is seen as being egotistical.
The origins of the “Let’s Go Brandon” meme are unclear, but it likely originated on 4chan or Reddit. In early December 2015, shortly after Biden announced his candidacy for president, several users on 4chan submitted a thread asking users to submit pictures of themselves photoshopping in Biden’s head onto other people’s bodies. One user submitted a screenshot of the Let’s Go Brandon meme and the meme quickly spread across 4chan and other online forums.
The “Let’s Go Brandon” meme takes aim at Joe Biden because of his reputation as being over-the-top egocentric. The mocking text of the meme plays on this characterization by using phrases like “you can let your ego and your hair down now,” which is a reference to one of Biden’s famous lines from his 1988 campaign ad: “I guess if everybody wants to get ahead, you’ve just got to work harder than everybody else.”
Recent Developments in ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Usage
1. In 2016, political commentator and comedian Michelle Wolf used the term “Let’s Go Brandon” in a routine during her show at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. The term was met with backlash from many viewers, who interpreted it as an insult to then-Vice President Joe Biden.
2. Since then, “Let’s Go Brandon” usage has increased on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. Many users use the term to mock or criticize other people or topics.
3. Some believe that the increased usage of “Let’s Go Brandon” is a result of President Trump’s increasing popularity, as the term is reminiscent of Trump’s infamous insult targeting Hillary Clinton – “You’re Lowe I’m Mired.”
What Happens When ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Becomes Code for Insulting Joe Biden
When “Let’s Go Brandon” became code for insulting Joe Biden, the internet had a field day. The meme started life as an innocuous GIF of Biden awkwardly laughing while his son, Beau, says “let’s go Brandon.” But over time, the GIF morphed into a mocking reference to Biden’s age and poor performance in the 2016 presidential election. For some, it was an all-encompassing insult that could be used to criticize just about anything else they felt was wrong with the former VP. Ironically enough, Beau Biden is now reportedly considering a 2020 bid for president himself.
Conclusion
In the year 2023, Brandon became code for insulting Joe Biden. The term spread like wildfire on social media and quickly became a popular way to criticize the former Vice President. Many people found Biden’s policies and statements embarrassing and some even deemed him arrogant. By using Brandon as an insult, users were able to express their disdain for Biden without actually having to say anything nice about him.