The Best Memes From The 2021 Inauguration
On January 20, history was made with the 2021 Presidential Inauguration.
Joe Biden became the oldest president. Dr Jill Biden became the first First Lady who is expected to continue with a paid job during her role. Kamala Harris became the first woman, Black woman and Asian-American to become Vice President. Doug Emhoff became the first Second Gentleman. And, 22-year-old Amanda Gorman became the youngest person to deliver the inauguration poem.
With all these firsts, combined with the turbulent state of US politics in recent months, even weeks, it was a hopeful day. A happy day.
And where there is happiness, there are memes.
As positive energy reverberated through Washington D.C. to the rest of the world, it did so on social media too. Biden and Harris supporters were happy, jubilant and relieved and these lifted concerns and renewed light approach to politics meant many a meme could be made.
Here are the best Inauguration Day memes:
Cold Bernie Sanders at Inauguration Day
The long-serving Vermont senator was there to watch proceedings, bracing the D.C. cold to witness Biden being sworn in as president. To withstand the cold climes, Sanders came prepared in a big old reliable coat and mittens - with his inaugural look and general demeanour waiting for the event to begin capturing the creativity of the internet through a series of 'Cold Bernie' memes:
Bernie Sanders, first of his name, Wearer of Mittens, Sitter of Chairs pic.twitter.com/1j6p8mrdlr
— Matthew Mucha (@mattymooch) January 20, 2021
Bernie Sanders mood. pic.twitter.com/VdcLSsPYHI
— GOOD (@good) January 20, 2021
Best Bernie sighting today. pic.twitter.com/Mwo5vlTxH8
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) January 21, 2021
There’s a lot of these and they are all cracking me up. ❤️ @BernieSanders pic.twitter.com/W3Wm6wEMFD
— Angela Kinsey🍩 (@AngelaKinsey) January 21, 2021
some album covers with cold Bernie pic.twitter.com/teg6TWBdXV
— Pigeons & Planes (@PigsAndPlans) January 20, 2021
“This could’ve been an email” pic.twitter.com/kn68z6eDhY
— Ashley K. (@AshleyKSmalls) January 20, 2021
Bernie memes are my new favorite thing 😂😂😂😂 #cantsitwithus pic.twitter.com/NkvtJl0565
— cold beer drinker (@koozie_queen23) January 21, 2021
The former aspiring presidential candidate later addressed the attention his outfit was getting in an interview with Gayle King, noting: 'You know in Vermont we know something about the cold and are not so concerned about good fashion, we want to keep warm and that's what I did today.'
.@BernieSanders talks about his mittens and coat "You know in Vermont, we dress warm, we know something about the cold, and we're not so concerned about good fashion, we want to keep warm. And that's what I did today." pic.twitter.com/FiTCLpn95m
— People for Bernie (@People4Bernie) January 20, 2021
Michelle Obama, in 2017 and 2021
When Michelle and Barack Obama departed the White House in 2017 to make way for Donald and Melania Trump to take over the reigns, Michelle did not hide how difficult and upsetting she found the moment. So a lot of people were thrilled to see the Michelle we know and love, happy, thrilled and generally paving the way at the 2021 inauguration ceremony.
If apply pressure was a person. #MichelleObama pic.twitter.com/YFYmw3J3Rw
— Sweetfacemiko (@sweetfacemiko) January 20, 2021
How to say something without saying a word #MichelleObama pic.twitter.com/HmSFf4Epjq
— Chellevira 🌊🏳️🌈🇺🇸 (@chellevira) January 20, 2021
michelle obama said "i'm here to show these bitchess how it's done" and absolutely SERVED #Inauguration2021 pic.twitter.com/oDv4tNP4YH
— lejla (@hayirdirramo) January 20, 2021
Michelle Obama with the “how is started and how it’s going”. Stanning the laid hair 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gHlQMUGRCP
— MelanatedEducated&lilBoujee (@educatedbupetty) January 20, 2021
Jennifer Lopez's insertion of 'Let's Get Loud'
Lopez performed at the inaugural ceremony, choosing to blend tradition with her own personal music taste. Starting off with a performance of American songs, 'This Land Is Your Land' and 'America The Beautiful', Lopez interjected the 'classics' with a lyric from her own tune 'Let's Get Loud', which was slipped in after Lopez recited the last line of the pledge of allegiance in Spanish, both of which have been interpreted as an uplifting nod to the Latinx community. As a result, people were thrilled - and somewhat surprised - to hear the blend of party pop within the patriotic folk number.
My cat when JLo broke into “Let’s get Loud” 😂 pic.twitter.com/HemrhcnFGU
— Sarah Kaplan (@sarahkaplan48) January 20, 2021
still thinking abt let's get loud
— Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) January 20, 2021
If JLo could sneak “Let’s get loud” into her inaugural performance I’m just really confused as to why we didn’t get “I wanna take a ride on your disco stick” in Gaga’s National Anthem?? pic.twitter.com/dUTu9byevg
— reid (@thereidfeed) January 20, 2021
Me watching JLo sneak in “Let’s Get Loud” pic.twitter.com/OAIGrWZjJr
— Saint Hoax (@SaintHoax) January 20, 2021
I did not think, after Hustlers, that my respect for Jennifer Lopez could get any higher, but the more I process the “let’s get loud” thing from today, the more I feel that she is actually the most powerful person in America?
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) January 20, 2021
Let’s Get Loud (This Land is Your Land Remix)
— Bedder (@itgetsbedder) January 20, 2021
you’re nuts if you think i’m not shouting “LET’S GET LOUD” at random moments for the rest of my life
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) January 20, 2021
I don't think we have fully processed yet how J. Lo invoked "Let's Get Loud" during a presidential inauguration.
— Dan Zak (@MrDanZak) January 20, 2021
*at a hospital in the year 2071*
*i'm laying in my death bed*
*i motion for my wife to come closer so i can say my final words*
*she leans in*
*i gather up all my strength to speak*
*i yell into her ear*
LET’S GET LOUD— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) January 20, 2021
Let’s get loud??? Ma’am, this is an #Inauguration pic.twitter.com/7ACMTPhVVq
— Brandon Pope TV (@BpopeTV) January 20, 2021
The Sanitiser-In-Chief
Because we are still, sadly, very much in the middle of a global pandemic, the inauguration looked starkly different this year. Fist bumping replaced handshakes, the president-to-be and everyone else wore a mask and a man came in to sanitise the podium in between every speaker and performer - who people began to develop a lot of adoration for on Twitter.
I came for @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris but I soon found out I was really there for podium sanitizer guy. #InaugurationDay #Inauguration2021 #inaguration
— Lia McDonald (@lia_d_mcdonald) January 20, 2021
Let’s give it up for the unsung hero who kept cleaning the podium! Nobody getting the Coronas on his watch!
— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) January 20, 2021
The Podium Wiper will be enshrined in American mythology and ceremonially present at every inauguration until the sun dies pic.twitter.com/6Fv4wkBKrW
— Charlotte McGrath (@mc_lotta) January 20, 2021
Hey, grandad, what did you do at the 2021 inauguration?
Kid, I was the podium sanitizer guy https://t.co/268NH0Llii— Dave | Yorkshire Dad of 4 (@yorkshiredadof4) January 20, 2021
Lady Gaga's Hunger Games vibes
Lady Gaga had the honour of performing the American national anthem, 'The Star-Spangled Banner' and, of course, she 'killed' it. The dramatic and rousing performance was made even better by her custom-made Schiaparelli gown, adorned in the US colours and complete with patriotic hidden meanings. However some thought they'd seen it - particularly the brooch - before...
When you gotta sing the national anthem at 4 but announce the hunger games at 5. pic.twitter.com/a4SNsOtYEv
— Jemal Polson (@JemalPolson) January 20, 2021
Gaga dressed like a Hunger Games sponsor. J Lo worked “let’s get loud” into this land is your land. Everything about this is so extra
— Wesley (@WesleyLowery) January 20, 2021
Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the 1st Hunger Games pic.twitter.com/QhBxozb38h
— Orenji (@MunchingOrange) January 20, 2021
katniss everdeen arriving to the capitol in hunger games: mockingjay (2014) pic.twitter.com/05KtvSCSvK
— jon. (@barbiecIit) January 20, 2021
congrats to lady Gaga’s dress on its success in the hunger games
— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) January 20, 2021
Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor! pic.twitter.com/jfV90lRdsP
— Adrianošević (@adrianosevic) January 20, 2021
Ella Emhoff's Eyebrows
With both the new President and Vice President joined by their families for the inauguration ceremony, Harris' stepdaughter Ella Emhoff soon attracted the attention of the internet. Firstly because of that Miu Miu coat, and secondly this raised eyebrow reaction when former VP Mike Pence - who unlike Donald Trump, chose to continue with tradition and attended the inauguration - entered the ceremony.
A unique reaction to Mike Pence's presence by Ella Emhoff @CNN @CNNPolitics pic.twitter.com/VE2WRc6x8W
— amanda the good witch (@sloppymenace) January 20, 2021
I’m very excited for four years of Ella Emhoff pic.twitter.com/8OnMfahEXx
— Ann Limpert (@AnnLimpertDC) January 20, 2021
Ella Emhoff is one to watch... 💕 pic.twitter.com/XJw7ay0DSc
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) January 20, 2021
'We did it Joe'
And to finish, things came full circle on the internet with the resurgence of 'We did it, Joe' - Vice President Harris' telephone reaction to Biden after the projection came in that they had won the election back in November. This time, both inaugurated and taking up their positions with immediate effect, they really have done it this time. And the internet couldn't wait to mark the occasion with the catchphrase, including Harris' actual niece Meena Harris:
WE DID IT, JOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Meena Harris (@meenaharris) January 20, 2021
BIDEN IS OFFICIALLY THE PRESIDENT. WE DID IT, JOE pic.twitter.com/ptSGLKn12h
— dai (@vietbaddie) January 20, 2021
We did it, Joe! You ARE the President of the United States! #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/nT9jEo1ItL
— Jaylon✨ (@_jayloo_) January 20, 2021
“You will NOT say ‘We did it, Joe!’ 100 times today” pic.twitter.com/EyBpIeDGQz
— Stefon (@WaltD336) January 20, 2021
"We did it, Joe" pic.twitter.com/uY2cGLaTso
— Vulture (@vulture) January 20, 2021
My day drunk ass to every old man on the street “WE DID IT JOE” pic.twitter.com/MwIlPYwi8n
— He-Be Buffay (@hebebuffay) January 20, 2021
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