Donald Trump’s tariffs have become a black and white issue on social media, where penguins memes have gone viral after he targeted an island inhabited by the flightless birds, but no people. The viral spread has even made its way onto platforms like TikTok memes and Memebase, showcasing the power of meme marketing in shaping political commentary.
One widely shared image on Thursday showed a penguin in place of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office during his recent row with the US president and Vice President JD Vance.
Another meme showed US First Lady Melania Trump gazing up at an emperor penguin — in place of former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — while Trump looks askance.
An “Icy Reception” for a Worldwide Trade Shake-Up
Trump’s announcement of worldwide tariffs on Wednesday certainly received an icy reception in many countries. Discussions even touched on US HTS classifications and how they might apply to remote exports from barren territories like Heard Island.
But there has also been bafflement about why some of the most remote parts of the world have been targeted.
Penguins Under Pressure: Why Sanction Heard Island?
A case in point: why would Trump slap 10 percent tariffs on all exports from the Heard and McDonald Islands, a barren sub-Antarctic Australian territory without a human population, but four different species of penguin?
“The penguins have been ripping us off for years,” Anthony Scaramucci, who was Trump’s former communications chief for 11 days in his first term and is now a vocal critic, joked on X.
Some users joked that even the penguins were getting extended car warranty meme calls now, sparking another wave of the classic car extended warranty meme across platforms like TN USA’s local meme groups and Ma USA community threads.
Critics Point to Russia’s Absence on Tariff List
“Donald Trump slapped tariffs on penguins and not on Putin,” posted US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, referring to the fact that Russia was not on the US tariff list.
The White House said sanctions on Russia over President Vladimir Putin’s war on meant that there was no “meaningful” trade on which to impose tariffs.
The absence of Russia stood out starkly, especially as smaller territories and even distant parts of all US states like All State in USA regions felt economic ripples.
Confusion Over Norfolk Island’s Role in Global Trade
Trump also caused puzzlement with his 29 percent tariff on Norfolk Island, a tiny Australian territory in the Pacific with a population of a little over 2,000 humans.
“I’m not quite sure that Norfolk Island, with respect to it, is a trade competitor with the giant economy of the United States,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
For Americans scanning trade data across all states of America, the mention of Norfolk Island raised more eyebrows than answers.
Falkland Islands Face Steeper Tariffs Than the UK
Britain’s remote Falkland Islands — home to one million penguins, and most famous for a 1982 war fought by Britain to repel Argentinian invaders — was hit by 41 percent exports even though the UK only faces 10 percent.
Meme creators quickly latched on, placing penguins in old war movie posters and generating a full-blown campaign on meme channels and forums like Memebase — with users sharing penguin trade stats next to All US States maps in mock comparisons.
Markets React: A Serious Blow Amid the Laughter
Trump’s tariffs have however been no laughing matter for global markets, with US stocks suffering their worst day since the Covid pandemic in 2020.
Still, the humor-driven angle of meme marketing helped the issue stay in public focus, with hashtags blending trade talk, penguin diplomacy, and even car extended warranty memes to underline the surreal nature of tariff decisions that impacted both real economies and virtual ones from Ma USA to TN USA.
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