bernie sanders memes

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Can Bernie Sanders’ supporters meme his way to the top?

Bernie is back, and so are the memes.

Photo of Mike Rothschild 

Mike Rothschild

Internet Culture

Posted on Sep 2, 2019   Updated on May 20, 2021, 4:59 am CDT

Now that Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) is well into his run for the Democratic nomination for 2020, the social media wars that characterized his run in 2016 have reignited. 

Without getting into the original Bernie vs. Hillary saga of 2016, or the new fights that are emerging as the Democratic primary candidates co-opt his platform, Sanders’ entry into the race will have one effect for sure on the social discourse: memes.

Hillary Clinton might have won more delegates, but to his supporters, Bernie Sanders had both the best policies and the best memes. 

Bernie memes were a ubiquitous part of social media for nearly two years, spawning so many images that they were even collected in a Facebook group called, naturally, “Bernie Sanders’ Dank Meme Stash.” And they’ve returned for 2020, of course.

Bernie Sanders Memes

Even if you thought Bernie’s ideas were unworkable, you had to admire the meme-ing skills of his fans, who had an innate understanding of the power that social media has to amplify and spread images.

There was the meme comparing Hillary to Bernie, one that had so many versions it inspired its own Meme Generator Link:

In Body Image

Then were the memes inspired by a small bird landing on the lectern as Sanders was giving a campaign speech.

Even animals love Bernie!

The 2016 election spawned more Bernie Sanders memes than could ever be viewed by one person.

How is the meme effort going so far in 2020? Judging by these early examples, not too shabby.

It began with his campaign announcement, which shattered fundraising numbers.

And the fact that his announcement would strike fear into the hearts of the rest of the crowded field. 

In Body Image

And it’s still going strong with the Iowa Caucus less than six months away.

https://twitter.com/noreallyhowcome/status/1164268385678401536

https://twitter.com/TodMoore3/status/1166933258547785728

Since Bernie didn’t win the 2016 primary, there was no opportunity for the second wave of memes, pitting him against Trump.

But now, many Sanders supporters are skipping the inconvenient fact that the Democratic primary is still six months away and anointing him the winner. And that means

Bernie vs. Trump memes:

Even the Bernie Bird hates Trump.

So is Trump worried about Bernie?

So far, he’s been fairly quiet about Democratic primary candidates, dredging up old racist jokes about Elizabeth Warren, but being weirdly complementary toward Kamala Harris, mocking Beto O’Rourke as a young man with “little going for himself,” and focusing a great deal of ire toward Joe Biden. 

What did Trump have to say about his former potential general election foe? Crazy Bernie was back!

Naturally, the memes followed:

https://twitter.com/GnomeGnuts/status/1098628735928942592

https://twitter.com/realTrumpForce/status/1097925797774589952

Nobody knows what will happen in the next year.

Except that there will be dank memes.

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*First Published: Sep 2, 2019, 6:30 am CDT

Mike Rothschild

Mike Rothschild is a writer who specializes in researching and debunking conspiracy theories and fringe beliefs. He also writes about politics, history, and breaking news.

Mike Rothschild