In a surprising turn of events, Kamala Harris has emerged as a last-minute U.S. presidential candidate, racing to craft her image while social media users flood the internet with political memes about coconuts, “brat summers” and femininomenons.
For weeks, Harris memes have been surging as the “KHive”—her online fandom—pushed her as an alternative to President Joe Biden to face Donald Trump in November. With Biden’s decision to step aside and support Harris, many have rallied behind the vice president with a wave of humorous appreciation and unburdened enthusiasm.
The meme frenzy began with coconuts. Yes, coconuts. Last year, during a White House speech on education, Harris quoted her mother: “I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.” This quirky quote, along with clips of her dancing and her sometimes awkward laughter (which Drew Barrymore is a massive fan of), became a focal point for internet humor and TikTok’s latest obsession.
Following Biden’s poor performance in a debate against Trump on June 27, the KHive intensified its support, with social media users declaring themselves “coconut-pilled.” TikTok was flooded with “fancam” edits of Harris’ speeches and dancing, and palm tree emojis became ubiquitous. Washington bars even began offering coconut-themed drinks, with piña coladas making a comeback.
Another Harris saying—”what can be, unburdened by what has been”—gained traction as Americans, weary of the long battle between Trump and Biden, began to hope for change. By the time Biden announced his withdrawal and endorsement of Harris, the memes had taken on a more serious tone.
Hawaii Senator, Brian Schatz, posted, “Madam Vice President, we are ready to help,” alongside a photo of a man climbing a coconut palm. Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker, also joined in, endorsing Harris with the comment, “You think I just fell out of a coconut tree?”
The Harris meme phenomenon mirrors what Biden’s campaign attempted to achieve with “Dark Brandon”—reclaiming derogatory jokes and flipping the narrative. However, Biden struggled to connect with younger voters, and some saw the Dark Brandon posts as a forced attempt to engage Generation Z.
“Harris’ efforts are likely to appear more authentic, maybe even fun,” wrote Charlie Warzel in The Atlantic. Despite the internet’s fickle nature, Harris’ campaign appears to be successfully connecting with the youth vote. Her campaign rebranded its account on X with a lime green logo inspired by Charli XCX’s album “Brat,” which celebrates a carefree, party-loving attitude.
Charli XCX herself joined the meme wave, posting “kamala IS brat” after Biden’s announcement. This endorsement prompted one user to note, “This tweet will reach more young people than a million dollar cable ad,” while Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost, 27, agreed, “Brat vote secured.”
As Biden passes the torch and Trump, 78, becomes the oldest presidential nominee in U.S. history, the election signals a broader generational shift. Slate writer, Mark Stern, noted on X, “Republicans who gleefully watched Biden get destroyed on TikTok for the past year are now realizing with horror that they can’t stop the Zoomer meme machine from turning Kamala into a brat summer icon.”
In an election that remains unpredictable, Harris’ meme-driven campaign reflects a new era of political engagement, blending humor and hope as she aims to connect with younger voters and reshape the presidential race.
Although, should the next president of the U.S. be elected by social users obsessed with Chappel Roan’s “femininomenon” and the possibility of a female black president in lime monochrome suits, with no consideration for the political ramifications?
