Kamala Harris: "Gen Z Meme Queen"
Following her announcement for the 2024 election, Indian aunties shared their excitement on social media by posting, “In Sanskrit, “Kamala” = lotus. In American, Kamala = POTUS."
TroibNews 
Shortly after President Joe Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, the internet sprang into action, creating numerous memes of the Vice President.
Many of these memes, produced by Black Twitter, Gen Z TikTok users, and other online communities, draw heavily on popular culture and internet trends, highlighting Harris's unique hobbies like Venn diagrams, her catchy phrases, and moments where she exudes a "girlboss" aura.
These creations, primarily from Gen Z, a key group of voters who have been somewhat indifferent to Biden due to his age and stance on Israel, aim to boost Harris's presidential prospects. @Ritz_Th articulated this sentiment on X, stating, “we absolutely MUST meme this woman into the presidency.”
This surge of support from younger voters marks a dramatic shift from the previous week when an AP-NORC poll showed significant dissatisfaction with Biden among the 18 to 44 age group, in contrast to older Democrats.
While the presidential debates raised concerns about Biden's suitability for office, similar age-related concerns apply to both Biden and his political opponent, Donald Trump. A recent poll by ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos indicates that 60 percent of Americans consider Trump too old for another term.
With Biden not running, the dynamics of the race change, making Trump the oldest presidential candidate ever and positioning Harris as a more youthful, relatable option.
Harris's campaign has quickly adapted to these youthful depictions, generating millions of views by tapping into Gen Z trends.
Key moments from the internet include:
- **Climbing the Coconut Tree:** An out-of-context quote by Harris about coconut trees went viral, leading to widespread sharing and support, even from figures like Sen. Brian Schatz.
- **Blast from the Past:** Online compilations have celebrated Harris's most memorable moments, including her fondness for good news and yellow school buses.
- **Live from New York:** With Harris closer to potentially becoming President, there's increased advocacy for Maya Rudolph, who impersonates Harris on “Saturday Night Live.”
- **Who’s On the Menu?:** The online community has also humorously critiqued the predominantly white male potential VP picks for Harris.
- **Dance Party:** Following Biden's withdrawal, the internet highlighted Harris's likely jubilation through various memes and videos.
- **360 Election Season:** Gen Z has labeled this summer “Brat Girl Summer,” pairing Harris with music from popular artists like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Charli XCX, who tweeted, “Kamala IS brat.”
- **Wake Up Warriors:** Besides focusing on Harris, there's a strong push depicting Democratic mobilization efforts, particularly among Black women and members of the Divine Nine, which Harris was part of in college.
- **Trump is ‘Not Like Us’:** Memes also connect Harris to celebrity culture, notably referencing the Drake versus Kendrick Lamar feud, with implications favoring Lamar.
This summary is based on information from a story published in Politico's newsletter "The Recast" on July 23, 2024.
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
Many of these memes, produced by Black Twitter, Gen Z TikTok users, and other online communities, draw heavily on popular culture and internet trends, highlighting Harris's unique hobbies like Venn diagrams, her catchy phrases, and moments where she exudes a "girlboss" aura.
These creations, primarily from Gen Z, a key group of voters who have been somewhat indifferent to Biden due to his age and stance on Israel, aim to boost Harris's presidential prospects. @Ritz_Th articulated this sentiment on X, stating, “we absolutely MUST meme this woman into the presidency.”
This surge of support from younger voters marks a dramatic shift from the previous week when an AP-NORC poll showed significant dissatisfaction with Biden among the 18 to 44 age group, in contrast to older Democrats.
While the presidential debates raised concerns about Biden's suitability for office, similar age-related concerns apply to both Biden and his political opponent, Donald Trump. A recent poll by ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos indicates that 60 percent of Americans consider Trump too old for another term.
With Biden not running, the dynamics of the race change, making Trump the oldest presidential candidate ever and positioning Harris as a more youthful, relatable option.
Harris's campaign has quickly adapted to these youthful depictions, generating millions of views by tapping into Gen Z trends.
Key moments from the internet include:
- **Climbing the Coconut Tree:** An out-of-context quote by Harris about coconut trees went viral, leading to widespread sharing and support, even from figures like Sen. Brian Schatz.
- **Blast from the Past:** Online compilations have celebrated Harris's most memorable moments, including her fondness for good news and yellow school buses.
- **Live from New York:** With Harris closer to potentially becoming President, there's increased advocacy for Maya Rudolph, who impersonates Harris on “Saturday Night Live.”
- **Who’s On the Menu?:** The online community has also humorously critiqued the predominantly white male potential VP picks for Harris.
- **Dance Party:** Following Biden's withdrawal, the internet highlighted Harris's likely jubilation through various memes and videos.
- **360 Election Season:** Gen Z has labeled this summer “Brat Girl Summer,” pairing Harris with music from popular artists like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Charli XCX, who tweeted, “Kamala IS brat.”
- **Wake Up Warriors:** Besides focusing on Harris, there's a strong push depicting Democratic mobilization efforts, particularly among Black women and members of the Divine Nine, which Harris was part of in college.
- **Trump is ‘Not Like Us’:** Memes also connect Harris to celebrity culture, notably referencing the Drake versus Kendrick Lamar feud, with implications favoring Lamar.
This summary is based on information from a story published in Politico's newsletter "The Recast" on July 23, 2024.
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
