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The Best Memes From The 2021 Inauguration

Photo credit: Getty
Photo credit: Getty

From ELLE

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:

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.'

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

'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:

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