Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) got an unexpected endorsement at his rally in Portland, Oregon, on Friday—from a small, adorable bird.
The Democratic presidential hopeful appeared to notice the feathered fellow near his feet on the stage, as did a very tickled crowd. But the bird kicked this bit of political theater up a notch by then leaping onto Sanders’s podium, at which point the audience went wild.
A bird lands on @BernieSanders podium in Portland Oregon. "Symbolism," he calls it. #FeelTheBern #BernieInPDX pic.twitter.com/Bt5a6y1FCC
— Arun Chaudhary (@ArunChaud) March 25, 2016
People flip out over bird joining Bernie at the lectern. pic.twitter.com/KKptU17mDF
— POLITICO (@politico) March 25, 2016
“I think that maybe there may be some symbolism here,” Sanders said, according to Politico. “I know it doesn’t look like it but that bird is really a dove asking us for world peace.” (Or maybe it had presidential ambitions of its own?)
In any event, the hashtag #BirdieSanders—and related memes—weren’t far behind.
#BirdieSanders and I are on our way to our rally in Seattle at Safeco Field. Meet us there: https://t.co/eJGkfGsA5M pic.twitter.com/05LhBpMrne
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 25, 2016
Put. A. Bern. On. It. #BirdieSanders pic.twitter.com/XU9LFfxmhq
— Portlandia (@portlandia) March 25, 2016
Literally. #BirdieSanders pic.twitter.com/iXcNLnNW05
— Lucy Small (@lucyleid) March 25, 2016
#BirdieSanders came to deliver a simple message in addition to endorsing #BernieSandersForPresident2016
— Dr. Alison Spalding (@AlisonSpalding2) March 25, 2016
Here it is! pic.twitter.com/ue8kcm2QKu
Right now, HRC is some where yelling at her staff "SOMEONE MAKE A GOD DAMN BIRD FLY TO ME" #BirdieSanders pic.twitter.com/qXnzFlAByk
— will 🍍🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (@wheresmychoice) March 25, 2016
#BirdieSanders he's freaking Snow White. Who wouldn't love this man? pic.twitter.com/sZlrxhF0f4
— Kimberly Barmore (@kbarmore5) March 25, 2016
Can't get enough of #BirdieSanders 💙 pic.twitter.com/nwv2uFElLt
— Latinas4BernieNY (@Gbonbon13) March 25, 2016
What a beautiful moment. #BirdieSanders endorses @BernieSanders as the best chance to save our planet #FeelTheBird pic.twitter.com/stQEhOGg46
— Expats4OurRevolution (@CitzAbroad4Bern) March 25, 2016
It took a bird landing on his podium for media to realize Bernie Sanders is still in the race. #BirdieSanders
— Ted Alexandro (@tedalexandro) March 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/swamiwammiloo/status/713506495636357121
Someone had to do it. #BirdieSanders pic.twitter.com/Ya7tLjemQB
— Ｋ Ａ Ｒ Ｐ Ｏ Ｕ Ｒ カンガルー 💙💛 (@karpour) March 25, 2016
Sanders isn’t the most hawkish candidate on national security, but if nothing else, he has the support of the Air Force.
Screengrab via @portlandia/Twitter