Yet, it was no meme page or troll account posting that image: It was posted on Biden’s own X page early on Monday. Coming against the backdrop of Israel’s brutal war on Gaza that has killed more than 28,000 people and that the US has backed, the image prompted particular criticism of Biden by some social media users.

Many suggested that Biden’s post was distasteful and insensitive as it came amid Israel’s devastating war on Gaza.

While calling for an end to civilian deaths in Gaza, the Biden administration continues to sell and supply weapons to Israel.

“But I don’t think Biden is thinking of the global audience here,” he said. “He is mostly thinking about his US audience.”

“The meme in itself is a political communication tool,” he told Al Jazeera. “It is being weaponised by different parties in order to attract attention and distract from other issues.”

Biden is not the only politician who has used memes to relay political messaging. Social media teams and followers of politicians including former US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have banked on memes and internet trends to further political messages.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Many suggested that Biden’s post was distasteful and insensitive as it came amid Israel’s devastating war on Gaza.

    Elections do not end just because there is a war. He’s running for re-election and trolling his opposition.

    “But I don’t think Biden is thinking of the global audience here,” he said. “He is mostly thinking about his US audience.”

    No shit. It was a response to a right-wing American conspiracy about the Superbowl.

    This is silly.

    • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.worldOP
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      9 months ago

      Ah, okay.

      FYI, while the Super Bowl was taking place, Natanyahu attacked Rafah, where more civilians were killed.

      Responding to online people on things that do not matter are more important than what Genocide Joe is funding…

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        FYI, while the Super Bowl was taking place, Natanyahu attacked Rafah, where more civilians were killed.

        If Biden had not sent that meme, would those people still be alive?

        Responding to online people on things that do not matter are more important than what Genocide Joe is funding…

        Sorry, how much time and effort do you think it takes for his media team to post a meme?

        • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.worldOP
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          9 months ago

          Genocide Joe has the power to stop funding these wars.

          That is why it is being called out, without US support these wars would not be happening at the level they are currently growing towards…

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            You did not answer my questions. I will ask them again:

            If Biden had not sent that meme, would those people still be alive?

            how much time and effort do you think it takes for his media team to post a meme?

            • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.worldOP
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              9 months ago

              I am here to expose what was happening when this meme took place.

              Rafah being bombed, that is what I care about, I am sure those questions are important to you, but to me they are a distraction from the OG reason I shared this article.

              Thank you for your helpful questions and let us keep on learning of what we are funding!

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                Rafah being bombed, that is what I care about

                Either not sending the meme would have stopped the bombing, in which case you should just tell me that is the case or sending the meme would not have stopped the bombing, in which case you posting this article was pointless.

                I’m guessing you won’t tell me which it is because you’re not interested in people asking you questions.

                • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.worldOP
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                  9 months ago

                  You asked questions and I answered to the best that I could.

                  It is okay that you do not agree with my view points on this topic.

                  Why ask questions you know the answer to?

                  I agian reinstate the reasoning behind my post: to call out the bombing in Rafah during the Super Bowl.

                  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                    9 months ago

                    I answered to the best that I could.

                    That is a lie. Not only did you not answer, you said you would not answer: “I am sure those questions are important to you, but to me they are a distraction from the OG reason I shared this article.”

                    Why ask questions you know the answer to?

                    For the third time:

                    “If Biden had not sent that meme, would those people still be alive?”

                    “how much time and effort do you think it takes for his media team to post a meme?”

                  • Lauchs@lemmy.world
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                    9 months ago

                    That’s a lot of posts to avoid answering pretty simple questions.

                    A) Would those people be alive if Biden’s social media team hadn’t sent that meme?

                    B) How much effort do you think Biden, or any of his cabinet who actually make decisions, spent on this? Several seconds approving it if that?

              • Windex007@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                By this logic, nobody can do or say anything ever because there are unspeakably terrible things going on at all times, forever. Gaza, while terrible, isn’t even the only terrible thing happening. There were terrible things going on before. There will be terrible things to come after.

                This isn’t intended to minimize the suffering of anyone, but it’s impractical to demand that a leader only speak in a tone appropriate to the worst thing currently going on on the planet.

              • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
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                9 months ago

                While you were commenting here hundreds of Rohingya refugees died. Why do you endorse the murder of innocent refugees.

                … /s obviously that’s fucking dumb but it’s pretty equivalent to the your point. Lots of things happen contemporaneously, sometimes those things are done to distract from real issues… in this case a staffer saw an opportunity to make conspiracy theorist Republicans look dumb and try to make it less likely that Trump is reelected. I think this meme was, on the whole, good.

      • Tremble@sh.itjust.works
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        9 months ago

        I see your point but he also didn’t say anything about increasing the minimum wage to help out the millions of Americans living in poverty paycheck to paycheck.

        Nor did he discuss offshore tax havens and getting rid of tax loopholes.

        Nor did he mention the ongoing war in the Congo.