Sign in Subscribe

Trump Roasts Gavin Newsom with Awkward Boxing Meme

Political Humor at Its FinestMemes Are the New Power Brokers in Politics

YEET MAGAZINE

• 4 min read
Trump Roasts Gavin Newsom with Awkward Boxing Meme

Memes Are the New Power Brokers in Politics
By Paola Bapelle

In 2025, a single image can define a political career. Forget speeches, debates, or policy papers—memes are the modern weapons of influence. Political communication has entered a new era where humor, audacity, and visual storytelling can overshadow experience, track record, or even competence.

Take the recent meme Donald Trump shared of Gavin Newsom struggling to land a punch in a boxing ring. At first glance, it’s just funny. Look closer, and it’s ruthless strategy. The image labels Newsom as weak, ineffective, and incapable of leadership, while the boldness of posting it signals confidence and control from Trump. Even an implied voice of critique—what some read as feminist exhaustion—adds social legitimacy, turning humor into social proof.

This isn’t trivial entertainment. Memes bypass rational analysis, speaking directly to emotion and gut perception. They travel faster than any editorial, spread wider than any campaign ad, and stick longer in the public imagination. A candidate’s perceived competence can hinge on a single viral moment.

In today’s political battlefield, boldness and mercilessness are assets. Humor becomes a weapon, relatability a strategy, and social media a public square where reputations are made or destroyed in minutes. Memes are not just commentary—they are narrative architecture, defining who wins attention, trust, and ultimately, votes.

The real question is not whether memes matter—they do—but whether we are ready to acknowledge just how much they are rewriting the rules of political power.

Memes as Political Weapons

Memes as Political Weapons