Who is brandon that everyone is talking about

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - OCTOBER 16: A NASCAR fan hols a "Lets Go Brandon" sign during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Andy's Frozen Custard 335 at Texas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

(ABC4) – A new meme phrase has entered the social media realm and you’ve probably wondered what it means and where it came from.

“Let’s Go Brandon” has become the latest tagline that seems to be tacked on to commentary by folks on the conservative end of the political spectrum. It also often appears as a caption to photos of the skyrocketing costs of fuel around the country.

But who is Brandon? And where is he going and what is he doing?

Well, the Brandon in reference is actually NASCAR driver Brandon Brown, but the phrase isn’t intended to be a sign of support for the wheelman. It’s actually a coded way for Republicans and opponents of Joe Biden to voice their displeasure with the President.

In short, “Let’s Go Brandon” is a way of saying “F*** Joe Biden.”

The meme was born after Brown had finished first at a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama earlier this month. As Brown was being interviewed by sportscaster Kelli Stavas, the race crowd took the opportunity to make a political statement on national television with a loud series of chants.

“F*** Joe Biden! F*** Joe Biden! F*** Joe Biden!” was the very clearly audible cheer from the stands.

Stavast, however, heard otherwise and remarked on the noise to Brown during the interview.

“As you can hear the chants from the crowd – ‘Let’s go, Brandon,'” she mistakenly related.

Since then, the errored translation has taken off as a synonym for what was really said by the crowd and has been embraced by members of the Republican party, even at the highest levels.

Florida Rep. Bill Posey ended a speech on the House floor last Friday by uttering “Let’s go Brandon.” South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan proudly donned a red mask with LET’S GO BRANDON in white letters during a voting session on Monday.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has even gotten on board with the phrase.

Even a pair of rap songs, one titled Let’s Go Brandon by Loza Alexander, and another by the same name by Bryson Gray, have become a part of the meme with vulgar undertones. The songs have each reached the top of iTunes charts and gone viral on TikTok this week.

So no, people aren’t cheering for a Brandon when they say “Let’s go Brandon.”

Spend enough time scrolling through Twitter, and you’ll eventually come across it. A simple, three-word exhortation — Let’s go, Brandon! — that started spreading like wildfire across social media in October of 2021.

This phrase quickly became a combination of anti-Joe Biden’s “Let’s go, Brandon” meme and a conservative rallying cry of sorts. It’s also driven Biden supporters completely crazy. You’ll generally find the phrase shared in posts written by President Biden’s detractors. Still, it’s also become a hashtag, a meme, included in account names and handles — and even adorns merchandise.

Even famous people appeared to have adopted this practice. Republican Congressman from South Carolina, Rep. Jeff Duncan, also wore a mask on the House floor with the statement inscribed. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz acknowledged that it was among the funniest things he had ever witnessed.

On TikTok, a “Let’s go, Brandon” song also gained popularity.

We’ll break down the backstory below.

It’s best to think about this catchphrase within the context of some larger political forces at work. For example, Joe Biden’s approval rating just hit one of the lowest levels of his presidency. Inflation is soaring, high gas prices are frustrating cash-strapped consumers, and some Democrats have started whispering about whether President Joe Biden should even be the candidate the party runs in 2024.

Here’s a segment from CNN decrying a so-called “geriatric oligarchy” in control of the US government.

What does “Let’s Go, Brandon!” mean?

For anyone interested in how the “Let’s Go, Brandon!” online movement got started, the video from the NASCAR race behind this whole thing is embedded below. The Brandon Brown interview was nothing less than spectacular, and here’s why.

The genesis was a race in October at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Brandon Brown had just won a NASCAR race. At one point during an interview with Brown afterward, Sportscaster Kelli Stavast commented on how the crowd seemed to be chanting in his honor: “Let’s go, Brandon!”

Unfortunately, that’s not actually what they were chanting. Maybe you could call it fake news. The crowd was very clearly addressing President Joe Biden, not Brandon. Only, with an f-bomb in front of his name instead of “Let’s go!”

Whether the reporter in that clip made a mistake when listening to the crowd’s chants or not is kind of irrelevant. Conservatives already feel like the mainstream media is stacked against them. And here, a reporter tells people something that contradicts what they could clearly hear with their own ears.

The phrase was all over social media again a few months ago, with the news that Southwest Airlines was canceling tons of flights (leading to suspicion that Biden’s vaccine mandate was somehow to blame). Even congressmen and the NRA, certainly no fans of the president, have gotten in on the act and promoted the phrase on social media. Consequently, the phrase then spilled over into pop culture.

There’ve been at least two songs with “Let’s Go, Brandon” in the title that went on to top the iTunes charts.

Brandon is a compulsive liar. LET’S GO BRANDON!

— Randy Quaid (@RandyRRQuaid) June 22, 2022

Biden approval rating

One reason “Let’s Go, Brandon!” is more than just a straightforward catchphrase has to do with the Biden economy.

One of the crises that was unfolding at the time, when the phrase first caught fire, was a supply chain meltdown. Inflation is still soaring, and the US has reeled from shortages of important consumer products, like baby formula. President Biden and his administration have tried to downplay much of it — which, to conservatives, has reeked of the same “Who are you going to believe? Me, or your lying eyes?” defense that characterized the original “Let’s go, Brandon!” TV moment.

Biden, meanwhile, also closed out his first year in office by finding himself almost as unpopular as former President Trump. Along those lines, The Economist ran a piece with the headline: “No one loves Joe Biden.”

“Americans elected the president to get rid of his predecessor,” the piece continued. “They’re not sure what else he can do.”

Biden's approval rating fell for a fourth straight week to 36%, matching its lowest level in ⁦@IpsosReuters⁩ poll, and approaching Trump's low of 33% during his own presidency. ⁦@rosehorowitch⁩ https://t.co/1qsTuyPrDd

— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) June 23, 2022

Let’s Go Brandon songs.

The phrase has continued to show up in all kinds of surprising places.

On November 1, NBC News reported that Palmetto State Armory, a firearms company, had begun marketing ammunition stamped with the “Let’s Go, Brandon” slogan. There have also been chart-topping hip-hop songs with, as noted above, “Let’s Go, Brandon” in the title. One of the songs, by rapper Loza Alexander, first went viral on TikTok.

Another is from rapper Bryson Gray, whose song shot to #1 on iTunes.

Who is Brandon Brown?

Brandon Brown, a 28-year-old professional NASCAR driver, is the center of it. Brandon drives the No. 68 Chevrolet Camaro for Brandonbilt Motorsports.

He first joined the Xfinity Series in 2016, starting as a part-time racecar driver, and shifted to a full-time position in the 2019-2020 season. Brown won his first Xfinity Series race on October 2, 2021, at the famous Talladega Superspeedway.

Luckily, in his attempt to change the narrative behind the slogan that was used to insult President Joe Biden, the racing star was able to find a new meaning to it. An autistic eight years old boy named Brandon Brundidge had seen signs with the “Let’s Go, Brandon” phrase on a spring break trip to Houston in March.

Without knowing the political meaning behind the phrase, the innocent boy had sweetly thought the signs were meant to encourage him. As a result of this occurrence, he began to attempt activities he never had before.

FAQ

What is the song Let’s Go Brandon about?

Released by American rapper Loza Alexander, the let’s go Brandon song criticizes US President Joe Biden and the mainstream media.

How old is Joe Biden?

President Biden is 79 years old. He was born on 20th November 1942.

Where is Loza Alexander from?

Loza Alexander is an American rapper born in New Jersey, United States. He currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

How old is Obama today?

Presently, the former president of the United States is 60 years old. He was born on 4th August 1961.

How old is Trump now?

Former President Donald Trump is 76 years old and was born on 14th June 1946.

How old is Hillary Clinton?

Born on 26th October 1947, Hilary Clinton is currently 74 years old.

Who was the youngest president of the United States?

Followed by the assassination of President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt became the youngest president in the history of the nation. At aboutp the age of 43, the young president brought new excitement and power to the Presidency. He did this by leading Congress and the American public toward progressive reforms and a vigorous foreign policy.

How old do you have to be to be President?

The age requirement for the presidency in the United States is at least 35 years. The candidate must also be a natural-born citizen of the United States and must have been a resident for 14 years.