What does 'Let's Go Brandon', the latest phrase sweeping US politics, actually mean? ", "Unless you are living in a cave, you know what it means," he said. In conjunction with Posey and Abbott, South Carolina Republican Jeff Duncan wore a Lets Go Brandon face mask at the Capitol last week. [11][21] In December 2021, Brown, who is a Republican, said he had remained quiet during its proliferation because he had "zero desire to be involved in politics," before expressing his wish for it to be used in a positive context instead. And you can put it on a mask, say it out loud or put it on a yard sign and not have your neighbours come knocking to complain or get tossed out of your local cafe for swearing. So how did it - how did this take flight? Greg Abbott and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who have both shared the slogan on Twitter. 'Thank you, Brandon' just means thanks. McWhorter described the Let's Go Brandon phenomenon as "simply fascinating", and a "wild, woolly kink in the intersection of language, politics, wit, and creativity. But yeah. AirPods are at the lowest price ever on Amazon! The Let's go, Brandon meaning goes back to an October NASCAR race. On a Southwest flight from Houston to Albuquerque, the pilot signed off his greeting over the public address system with the phrase, to audible gasps from some passengers. But that's not what these slogans are about. As the creator and distributor of conservative memes through his now-banned Twitter account for years, Donald Trump has a keen eye for what will catch on with his supporters. No one is really cheering on a guy named Brandon. SIMON: But well, let me - I mean, you've been talking about conservatives. A heckler repeatedly shouted Lets go, Brandon at US President Joe Biden during his primetime address, as he spoke about democracy and the threat of political violence. Let's go, Sylvia! A supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump displays a "Let's Go Brandon" hat before a campaign event for Terry McAuliffe, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Virginia, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. "Let's go, Brandon" does mean something to the people who are chanting it: It means "Fuck Joe Biden," which resonates with anybody who strongly dislikes the president, and it also means . By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. [20] Brown took a more mixed stance in an op-ed for Newsweek, in which he said he was "not going to endorse anyone" or be silent about issues important to him. He wrote that the anti-Biden euphemism has a similar tone to the word SNAFU, which stands for "Situation Normal All Fucked Up", or to the word "cuckservatives" (a portmanteau of "cuckold" and "conservatives") which is used by some nationalists or paleoconservatives to describe neoconservatives perceived as being in fact liberals. [13] A country rap song of the same name was recorded by Forgiato Blow. ", Trump hasnt missed the moment. Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson were the subject of poems that leaned into racist tropes and allegations of bigamy. And there are sensitivities around airing the F-word. The phrase "Let's go, Brandon" actually means "F--- Joe Biden." Photos: 'Let's go, Brandon,' a cryptic code that insults President Joe Biden. STALL: On the left, it's usually used for the, like, call-your-manager-type conservative suburbanite as well. Tennessee becomes first state to ban drag shows on public property, Amazon delays construction on second phase of HQ2 in Arlington, Cocktails lead beer as the nation's most money making alcoholic beverage. By Anthony Zurcher. Sign up for writing inspiration in your email, So, were up to 8.4% inflation. These times, people wakin' up to e'ything. Bill Clinton was criticised so frequently, his most vocal critics were labelled the "Clinton crazies." You can find it on T-shirts. [39] The song first went viral on TikTok before rising to number one on the iTunes Store Top Hip-Hop/Rap Songs list, and number two on the platform's Top Songs list, on October 18, 2021. The "Let's go Brandon" chant dates to an Oct. 2 trackside interview, conducted by an NBC Sports reporter with NASCAR driver Brandon Brown after he won a race. What about Karen? Learn more easy tips for dining in or out. STALL: Oh. One message to supporters reads, "#FJB or LETS GO BRANDON? Initial use of the phrase in an interview with Brandon Brown. "Let's Go Brandon" is a political slogan and Internet meme used as a substitute for the phrase "Fuck Joe Biden" in reference to Joe Biden, the 46th and current president of the United States. When Republican Rep. Bill Posey of Florida ended an Oct. 21 House floor speech with a fist pump and the phrase "Lets go, Brandon!" NASCAR and NBC have since taken steps to limit "ambient crowd noise" during interviews, but it was too late the phrase already had taken off. And if you object and are taking it too seriously, go away.". The phrase sprang to life after NBC Sports reporter Kelli Stavast's fateful effort to interview auto. Either way, President Trump wants YOU to have our ICONIC new shirt.". Here's how these three words have quickly become an anti-Biden meme among conservatives. Brown himself later told The New York Times, "I have zero desire to be involved in politics.". After a heckler interrupted Gov. If you aren't already familiar with the topic, "Let's go Brandon" has become the favored chant of conservatives across the country a purportedly non-vulgar way of saying "F--k Joe Biden." In . But now it's being used to sell guns and ammunition. [11][12] Fans were chanting "Fuck Joe Biden",[13] and this became audible to viewers of the broadcast. And as for the real Brandon, things haven't been so great. Retailers such as Culper Precision and My Southern Tactical are selling AR-15 magazines printed with the words Lets Go Brandon., It's been embraced by Republican politicians, NBC News national security and intelligence correspondent Ken Dilanian said on TODAY. [19] The slogan has been printed on clothing, a billboard, and a banner flown behind a plane over a pro-Donald Trump rally in Iowa. Americans are accustomed to their leaders being publicly jeered, and former President Donald Trumps often-coarse language seemed to expand the boundaries of what counts as normal political speech. It started at an Oct. 2 NASCAR race at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. What does Let's Go Brandon mean? Here's why, Coney Island casino and resort: First look at name, renderings, Disneyland banned Rebel Wilson over selfie, actress says, Giant bug found at an Arkansas Walmart identified as a Jurassic-era insect. UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #2: Republican member of Congress wearing a mask that says Let's Go, Brandon. "Let's go, Brandon!" has become a popular refrain among US conservatives. ", Trump hasn't missed the moment. "Let's go, Brandon" isn't the first president-related meme to take off, nor is it the first time a president has dealt with vulgar messages. South Carolina Republican Jeff Duncan wore a "Lets Go Brandon" face mask at the Capitol last month. F CNN. What does 'Let's Go Brandon' mean? he tweeted. Let's Go Brandon is a euphemistic phrase used by critics of US President Joe Biden to mean "Fuck Joe Biden." On social media, the phrase is commonly used as the hashtag #LetsGoBrandon. Nascar's Twitter account initially posted a video of the interview, but subsequently deleted it without explanation. Here's what 'Let's Go, Brandon' actually means and how it made its way to Congress. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. [55] In April 2022, a class-action lawsuit was filed in Florida by plaintiff Eric De Ford against the LGBcoin cryptocurrency company and its promoters Brandon Brown, NASCAR, and political commentator Candace Owens. While it is often used with the intention of being at least somewhat humorous due to its euphemistic nature, it is nevertheless usually intended to convey the explicit meaning of the phrase it represents. Williams sued, with former Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler acting as his attorney. And a group chanted "Let's go, Brandon" outside a Virginia park on Monday when Biden made an appearance on behalf of the Democratic candidate for governor, Terry McAuliffe. [1] The slogan has become well known through use by Republican politicians and critics of Biden. South Carolina Republican Jeff Duncan wore a "Lets Go Brandon" face mask at the Capitol last week. His Save America PAC now sells a $45 T-shirt featuring "Lets go Brandon" above an American flag. However, it then became clear that the crowd was chanting F**k Joe Biden. George WBush had a shoe thrown in his face. The phrase became an internet meme after a TV journalist misinterpreted a crowd's chanted . "Let's go, Brandon!" has become a popular refrain among US conservatives. [10], On October 2, 2021, racing driver Brandon Brown was being interviewed by NBC Sports reporter Kelli Stavast at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, following his victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sparks 300 race which was shortened due to darkness. Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images. in the 1880s over rumors hed fathered an illegitimate child. "Let's Go Brandon" flags dot Daytona International Speedway. Video'Trump or bust' - grassroots Republicans are still loyal, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry. The phrase "Let's Go Brandon" has been chanted at football games, printed on T-shirts and repeated by U.S. politicians but what exactly does it mean? But it was clear they were saying, (Expletive) Joe Biden.". Initially, Thiessen was not a fan of the chant, but concluded his comments with, "it is a perfectly harmless and humorous way for Americans to express their frustration at a flailing and failing presidency. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani, Mary Clare Jalonick, Brian Slodysko and Will Weissert in Washington and Jenna Fryer in Charlotte, N.C., contributed to this report. "[32], While President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were taking phone calls for NORAD's Santa tracker hotline on December 24, 2021, a caller ended his chat by saying, "Merry Christmas and let's go Brandon," to which President Biden smiled and responded, "Let's go Brandon, I agree. The conservative social media ecosystem quickly latched onto the moment. The phrase Lets Go Brandon originated during a live broadcast at the Sparks 300 NASCAR race on October 2, 2021. Two protesters dropped the euphemism entirely, holding up hand-drawn signs with the profanity. How internet . in the 1880s over rumours he'd fathered an illegitimate child. If reading the words "Let's go Brandon" drives you up a wall, well, that's the plan. Sen. Mitch McConnells press secretary retweeted a photo of the phrase on a construction sign in Virginia. [12], According to The Independent, on October 19, "The anti-Biden war cry 'Let's Go Brandon' is no longer a conservative media phenomenon, it's infiltrating mainstream popular culture and is now number one and two on iTunes, knocking Adele's new single into third place. More recently, Southwest Airlines opened an internal investigation when a pilot used it over the loudspeaker. The perfect tummy control bodysuit, a popcorn gadget, more bestsellers starting at $8. They have no shame. The crowd behind him was chanting something at first difficult to make out. The phrase is commonly featured on anti-Biden merchandise, like bumper stickers and T-shirts. Las Vegas rapper Loza Alexander penned a song called "Let's go Brandon" in late October of last year, which went viral on TikTok before taking the No. When the president visited a construction site in suburban Chicago a few weeks ago to promote his vaccinate-or-test mandate, protesters deployed both three-word phrases. The clip took off online, and the "Let's Go Brandon" meme was born. And he joins us from Atlanta. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold denied Williams' request under the reasoning that "Let's go Brandon" is a slogan and not a nickname. All, all, all, we the people, we the people. It was included in campaigning emails in the same way that currently, like, Let's Go, Brandon as a phrase is being repeated in the conservative sphere, in the MAGA world. The exact origin of Karen is unknown, but the meme gained steam during 2020 in the early stages of the . Bill Clinton was criticized with such fervor that his most vocal critics were labeled the "Clinton crazies.". "Let's Go Brandon" is a political slogan and Internet meme used as a substitute for the phrase "Fuck Joe Biden" in reference to Joe Biden, the 46th and current president of the United States. "F- Trump" graffiti still marks many an overpass in Washington, D.C. George W. Bush had a shoe thrown in his face. His Save America PAC now sells a $45 T-shirt featuring "Lets go Brandon" above an American flag. But the phrase was already growing in right-wing circles, and now the seemingly upbeat sentiment -- actually a stand-in for swearing at Joe Biden -- is everywhere. Mr. it may have seemed cryptic and weird to many who were listening. And a group chanted "Let's go, Brandon" outside a Virginia park on Monday when Biden made an appearance on behalf of the Democratic candidate for governor, Terry McAuliffe. The phrase "Let's go Brandon" is referring to a viral video of the NASCAR Racer. NASCAR and NBC have since taken steps to limit "ambient crowd noise" during interviews. #LetsGoBrandon. FLORIDA MAN FACES FINES FOR MASSIVE 'LET'S GO BRANDON' SIGN, Veteran GOP ad maker Jim Innocenzi had no qualms about the coded crudity, calling it "hilarious. UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #1: Well, it seems the Let's Go, Brandon momentum isn't dying down soon. A Lets Go Brandon sign appeared at a Boston College vs. Syracuse college football game in early November. [46], On January 25, 2022, Kid Rock released a single, "We the People", in which he attacks the media, Dr. Anthony Fauci, masks, COVID-19 restrictions, and Big Tech, and which features the chant "Let's go Brandon" in the chorus. Let's . [27] The following week, Republican representative Jeff Duncan wore a face mask with the phrase imprinted on it on the House floor. The expression became popular as a way of expressing opposition to Joe Biden without using the explicit phrase it represents. Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on October 09, 2021 in Des Moines, Iowa. "Let's Go Brandon" has become conservative code, a kind of not-so-secret handshake, for another three-word phrase: "F--- Joe Biden." Why it was in Beaverson's obituary is not known. The phrase "Let's go Brandon," which is understood to be code for swearing at President Biden, was uttered over the intercom by a Southwest pilot during a flight on Friday, a reporter for. However, "Brandon Falls" is not an official landmark named by the state of Delaware. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting. 1 slot on the iTunes hip hop chart . They claimed "Let's Go Brandon" was emblematic of how they . Republican politicians wear masks with the phrase. A portion of the U.S. was already angry before the Brandon moment, believing the 2020 presidential election was rigged despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary, which has stood the test of recounts and court cases. Separately, T-shirts are popping up in storefronts with the slogan and the NASCAR logo. "But it's done with a little bit of a class. A group chanted "Let's go, Brandon" outside a Virginia park when Biden made an appearance on behalf of the Democratic candidate for governor, Terry McAuliffe. [2][3] The phrase quickly spread to popular culture, with rap songs using the phrase placing high on record charts. I mean, Karen, I think, is more of a, like, demographic stab. Pro-Biden tweets Below, meanwhile, you'll find a sampling of some recent tweets showing the new . Here's what it means, and how it came about. It's a direct insult to Biden. [11] Later in 2021, a rapidly increasing number of national Republican politicians explicitly supported or referred to the phrase. Two protesters dropped the euphemism entirely, holding up hand-drawn signs with the profanity. Brandon Brown, a 28-year-old driver, had won his first Xfinity Series and was being interviewed by an NBC Sports reporter. But how did Republicans settle on the Brandon phrase as a G-rated substitute for its more vulgar three-word cousin? The team has long struggled for sponsorship and existing partners have not been marketing the driver since the slogan took off. The crowd behind the 28-year-old was chanting something at first difficult to make out. Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz mentioned it on a conservative podcast, calling it "one of the funniest things I've ever seen". We won't be around the bush, it actually means "F*** Joe Biden". A new song by Bryson Gray called Lets Go Brandon, one of multiple musical tributes to the anti-Biden meme, also bumped Adeles new hit, Easy On Me, out of the top spot on iTunes for a time last month. The attempts for further-right groups to hijack the conversation right now have been mostly unsuccessful, with the exception being militia groups, which were already doing this kind of stuff anyway. You have one Republican aide who described the phrase to NBC News as an annoying boomer meme that's getting past its due date. Well see.. And if you object and are taking it too seriously, go away., Meanwhile, Democratic leaders are against it. But its done with a little bit of a class. Lets Go Brandon is used by those who oppose US President Joe Biden, often as the hashtag #LetsGoBrandon. Brandon Brown, a 28-year-old driver, had won his first Xfinity Series and was being interviewed by an NBC Sports reporter. False claim that 'Let's go Brandon' chant was classified as hate speech, Image of cargo ships spelling out 'Let's go Brandon' originated as satire, showed the pilot signingoff his greeting over the public address system with the phrase, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Brown unwittingly became entangled in this debacle when he won his first career NASCAR race in October in Alabama. '"[3][11][16] It is unclear whether Stavast misunderstood the chant or whether she intentionally misquoted it; a reporter with the Associated Press said that the chant was "at first difficult to make out". A vulgar chant by racing fans in Alabama has morphed into a conservative meme, 'Trump or bust' - grassroots Republicans are still loyal. SIMON: OK. Four weeks from now, will we know what anybody says - anybody means when they say, Let's Go, Brandon? WhenPresident Biden visited a construction site in suburban Chicago a few weeks ago to promote his vaccinate-or-test mandate, protesters deployed both the "Brandon" version and the non-coded version of the chant. On a recent Southwest flight from Houston to Albuquerque, the pilot signed off his greeting over the public address system with the phrase, to audible gasps from some passengers. "But its done with a little bit of a class. [63] An Agence France-Presse journalist wrote that the variant rebranded "him from ineffectual grandfather figure to a kind of political terminator. But now its more than that to die-hard Trump supporters, said Stanley Renshon, a political scientist and psychoanalyst at the City University of New York. Chants of "Fuck Joe Biden" began during sporting events in early September 2021. Sane people aren't offended by it. SIMON: I - do you really think conservatives use Karen to describe a white woman bigot? Sen. Mitch McConnells press secretary retweeted a photo of the phrase on a construction sign in Virginia. [18][2][14] It has also been reported as a protest against perceived liberal bias in mainstream media, based on speculation that the reporter's description of the crowd's chant was intended to conceal anti-Biden sentiment. "The meme feeds into several long-running beliefs in conservative circles - that liberals are snowflakes who get offended at things quickly and that so-called liberal media will censor all criticism of Biden," Amarasingam says. That. Please follow our rules. "Let's go, Brandon" is a code that Republicans use to insult Joe Biden. And so, "Let's go, Brandon" went viral as an internet meme. But who knows how long its shelf life will be, NBC News senior Washington correspondent Hallie Jackson also reported on TODAY. He cited the Afghanistan withdrawal, the southern border situation and rancorous school board debates as situations in which Biden critics feel that "how American institutions are telling the American public what they clearly see and understand to be true, is in fact not true. But the slogan persisted. [13] On October 27, iTunes had different "Let's Go Brandon" recordings at numbers one, two,[45] four and eight. The perceived media filter has also been a key component for the popularity of the Brandon meme. Let's go Brandon. One of them is that the phrase is a very shareable and adaptable phrase that can be sort of said publicly in the way that cursing out the president cannot. A simple, three-word exhortation "Let's go, Brandon!" that started spreading like wildfire across social media in October of 2021. Even the racism and vitriol to which former President Barack Obama was subjected was tempered in part because Twitter was relatively new. "Unless you are living in a cave, you know what it means," he said. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. One message to supporters reads, "#FJB or LETS GO BRANDON? The phrase "Let's Go Brandon" has been chanted at football games, printed on T-shirts and repeated by U.S. politicians but what exactly does it mean? Disinformation and conspiracy theories on social media are a regular source of public concern, but the Brandon phenomenon is something different - a simple vessel for transmitting invective at a politician. Grover Cleveland faced chants of "Ma, Ma Where's my Pa?" SIMON: Is there any evidence that this phrase, which is perfectly innocuous, is being used for more malevolent purposes? This past week, Bidens motorcade was driving past a "Lets Go Brandon" banner as the president passed through Plainfield, New Jersey. Americans are accustomed to their leaders being publicly jeered, and former President Donald Trumps often-coarse language seemed to expand the boundaries of what counts as normal political speech. "Let's go, Brandon" has become a new chant on the right. "All memes are basically designed to quickly make you feel like you are on the inside of a large body of ideas and community, without having to do any of the work.". 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. "Let's go America," Brown concluded the op/ed. With Joe Biden's victory, Fox is stepping warily to avoid alienating Trump supporters. 2191 posts Page 46 of 55. ", Overwhelmingly, yes. Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson were the subject of poems that leaned into racist tropes and allegations of bigamy. She is also working on her first novel, a domestic drama set in rural Regency England. (SOUNDBITE OF BRIAN BLADE SONG, "AFTER THE REVIVAL") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. The biggest difference, though, between the sentiments hurled at the Grover Clevelands of yore and modern politicians is the amplification they get on social media. President Biden couldn't escape the chant on a visit to Michigan the . Your support makes this possible. [14][1] On the live broadcast, while wearing a headset,[15] reporter Stavast stated, "You can hear the chants from the crowd, 'Let's go, Brandon! The phrase originated from a live broadcast at a NASCAR race, when the reporter conducting the post-race interview with winning driver Brandon Brown incorrectly noted that the crowd was chanting Lets Go Brandon when the phrase being chanted was actually Fuck Joe Biden. (Read more about the origin of the phrase in the next section.). I stand with Southwest Airlines employees that took a stand against mandates. The Trump campaign joined the masses, too, now selling T-shirts for "Let's Go Brandon. And if you object and are taking it too seriously, go away.". Loud chants of "Fuck Joe Biden . It's far less polarizing than "(Expletive) Joe Biden.". Jim Lamon, a Republican candidate for Senate in Arizona, has a new television advertisement that employs the slogan "Let's go, Brandon." His campaign says it is spending $1 million to air. But the phrase was already growing in right-wing circles, and now the seemingly upbeat sentiment -- actually a stand-in for swearing at Joe Biden -- is everywhere. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images), RELATED: Florida man faces daily fines for massive 'Let's Go Brandon' sign and pro-Trump sign: 'That's free speech'. STALL: I think so. ", "F--- Trump" graffiti still marks many an overpass in Washington, D.C. George W. Bush had a shoe thrown in his face. In a New York Times story entitled "Brandon just wants to drive his racecar," Brown said he was a Republican voter but had zero desire to . The vulgar word directed at Joe Biden was clearly picked up on the broadcast's audio. Brown, or the "real Brandon," drives for a short-staffed, underfunded NASCAR team owned by his father. While in office, Trump was subjected to as many mean nicknames as he dished out. [7][8], The Washington Examiner reported that "Fuck Joe Biden" was chanted by some attendees at a Megadeth concert in September 2021,[9] and at an October 2021 protest in response to a vaccine mandate for educators in New York City. It's not hate speech. That "FREE SHIRT" being promised only comes witha minimum $US45 ($60) donation (and the website suggests a $250 donation with a little animation. 28 on this week's #Hot100", "Kid Rock Chants 'Let's Go Brandon,' Slams Joe Biden & Dr. Fauci in New Song", "Cryptocurrency Meme Coin LGBcoin.io Announced as Full Season Primary Partner for Brandonbilt Motorsports", "NASCAR walks back 'Let's Go Brandon' sponsorship approval, Brandon Brown spokesperson says", "Cryptocurrency Meme Coin LGBcoin.io Serving as Primary Partner for Brandonbilt Motorsports in 2022 UPDATES", "NASCAR Rejects "Let's Go Brandon" Crypto Sponsorship, Team Pledges To Fight Back", "Influencers beware: promoting the wrong crypto could mean facing a class-action lawsuit", "How an author, a NASCAR star and a young boy flipped 'Let's Go Brandon' on its head", "How the phrase 'Let's go Brandon' made a little boy with autism feel loved", "Democrat Brandon Presley is running for governor", "The "Dark Brandon" Meme That Liberals Suddenly Love", "The "Dark Brandon Joe Biden Meme has Made its Way to the White House", "Biden: superhero, lame duck -- or both? "Let's go us. SIMON: And the NBC reporter just thought that what they heard was, let's go, Brandon? Last week, R ep ublica n U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, of Florida, gave a speech on the House. Greg Abbott tweets anti-Biden phrase alongside clip from Breitbart interview", "GOP Lawmaker Wears 'Let's Go Brandon' Mask on House Floor in Barely Veiled Swipe at President Biden", "Florida Gov. Well, the "Brandon" being referenced is actually NASCAR driver Brandon Brown, but the phrase isn't intended to be a sign of support for the wheelman. This is Trump's first rally in Iowa since the 2020 election. But its hidden G-rated camouflage has sparked others to use the saying more than the original expletive-laced chant.