The Analyze the Meme Series is dedicated to understanding what’s funny and why. Whether you’re a memester who wants to up your game, love internet culture, or just enjoy overthinking everything – keep reading!
This meme has me in stitches every time I see it. Before it’s gone, let’s take a look under the hood and see why it’s so funny.
The Context:
Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York City, is, in his own words, a democratic socialist. Trump minced zero words during Mamdani’s campaign, slinging all sorts of insults and backing Mamdani’s opponent, Andrew Cuomo. In turn, Mamdani is on record saying that Trump is a despot, among other things.
On November 21st Momdani flew to Washington D.C. for a meeting at the White House. Read CBS’s reporting on his visit here. If complicated politics were roiling behind the scenes, it wasn’t noticeable through all the flattery and fond looks. Amazingly, they were directed at a poised and articulate Mamdani and not at the leader of the free world.
The Meme:
This meme is circulating as still photos and videos where the two men address the press from behind the president’s Oval Office desk. Many instances are accompanied by political analysis, text, and ironic music.
I was thrilled to see the meme in templated versions. Among others, I saw the “Distracted Boyfriend” template, which is a good choice in my humble opinion.
As a reminder, the semantic relationship in that template is: wishing to pursue, against better judgment, an interest in something forbidden over something more appropriate – or something you already have. As you may have guessed, this template had Mamdani in the role of the hot girlfriend and the GOP as the thrown-over boring girlfriend.
The humor:
So why is it so funny?
The meme spins the two men, both powerful politicians, as pretty awkward. Love blooms in the eyes of the despot, while Mamdani seems surprised by his affectionate demeanor and jocular arm whaps. It’s like a high school romance unfolding, but with adults…people who make decisions that shape the country. Oh dear!
Hilariously, it seems to be unrequited. Al Jazeera points out that Trump’s “compliments largely flow[ed] one way”. The President of the United States of America is fawning over another man, who seems not to feel the same. Maybe Trump doesn’t need any more sycophants in his life, or maybe he’s hot on his heinie. We are invited to laugh and gossip as if anything is possible.
On top of appearing a little desperate, Trump looks so very uncool. In this meme (and in life), power and wealth, political success, who-you-are and who-you-know doesn’t save you from looking like an idiot. Like a real buffoon. It doesn’t take much to nullify the glam and majesty of the golden figures in the room and the illustriousness of its occupants.
It will be a long time before I stop smiling about Trump’s rosy cheeks glowing from the “great meeting” and his words of encouragement for the democratic socialist. During press questions after their meeting, Trump gushed over Mamdani’s future as mayor and expressed unbound faith in his leadership. “If [New York] city could be unbelievable, if he could be a spectacular success, I’d be very happy.”
This may be the first time I’m inclined to agree with Trump.
Small Words 
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