“Let’s go Brandon”, the (hidden) insult against President Biden

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Within weeks, the slogan literally invaded the country. It is displayed on caps, mugs, T-shirts, backpacks, social networks … It is used in chorus in stadiums and sports competitions, it has even slipped into the spans of Congress in Washington: “Let’s Go Brandon “, literally an encouragement “Come on Brandon!“.

Actually a coded sentence which refers to the expression “Fuck You Biden“(“Biden fuck youAn insult that alone sums up Trump’s deteriorating political climate in America, the polarization of society, and the new president’s fall in popularity – his party was recently defeated in a local election in Virginie – who is particularly struggling to get her post-Covid recovery plans adopted.

Why “Brandon”? The slogan originated in a television interview with young Alabama racer Brandon Brown. On October 2, after winning a race, he was interviewed on the circuit by NBC Sport. While answering the journalist’s questions, a rumor rises from the stands. We can’t hear very well. In the excitement of the moment, the reporter translates for viewers: “They cheer you on, they say ‘Come on Brandon ! ‘”

Except that she misunderstood. The crowd does not encourage the pilot at all, the spectators take advantage of being on TV to shout: “Fuck You Biden!”. The footage goes viral, quickly the slogan “Let’s Go Brandon” goes beyond the circle of Nascar circuits, which attract a white, popular and very right-wing public. It stands out as a roundabout way of violently beating down on the American president without having to utter the “F. word” – a word that a well-behaved person generally avoids uttering.

A Southwest Airlines pilot even told his passengers during a cabin message at the end of a Houston – Albuquerque flight. The company deemed it inappropriate and launched an internal investigation.

The Trumpist conservative elected officials also found it very funny. To give you two of many examples, Republican Jeff Duncan of South Carolina arrived in the House of Representatives on November 1 wearing a red anti-covid mask bearing this inscription. “Let’s Go Brandon”. The Democrats didn’t like it at all.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a heavyweight some already see in the White House in 2024, mocked him in one of his speeches from “the Brandon administration”.

We don’t know how long this little masquerade will last. President Biden’s supporters hit back on social media with a reportedly less successful hashtag #ThankYouBrandon (“Thank you Brandon”).

As for Brandon, the pilot, despite himself at the origin of this story, he unfortunately has a lot of trouble keeping his sponsors who do not want to be accused of political bias.


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