In his second State of the Union address, President Donald Trump sought to strike a bipartisan tone of unity and progress, just weeks after the longest shutdown in US history — and with less than two weeks to go before the next funding lapse.
Trump, asking Americans to “choose greatness,” focused on some of his top priorities: immigration, the economy, infrastructure, drug prices and national security.
But Wednesday morning people continued to talk about that Nancy Pelosi clap that many deemed “unforgettable.”
It was when Trump declared, “We must reject the politics of revenge, resistance and retribution and embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise and the common good,” a viral moment was born.
She is seen rising from her seat along with others, applauding with her arms awkwardly extended out toward Trump.
The two then lock eyes, Pelosi continues clapping, and appears to… smirk?
Pelosi’s literal clap back at Trump was shown for only seconds on live broadcasts, but it did not take long for the Internet to lose it and create memes and GIFs with the potential to live on forever.
“Respect to Pelosi,” one Twitter user wrote. “Circumstance demanded she clap, so she invented this weird walrus clap that was mocking, aggressive, and delightfully surreal all at the same time. Nobody has ever has clapped like this.”
Of course, the memes followed:
- BAY AREA RESTAURANT WON’T SERVE ANYONE WEARING MAGA HATS
- FAKE BAY AREA PHARMACIST AT BAY AREA WALGREENS BUSTED
- KEAK DA SNEAK: ‘NO COMPASSION’ AS HE HEADS TO PRISON IN WHEELCHAIR
- JUDGE SAYS ‘I MAY VOMIT’ UPON REVIEW OF 4-YEAR-OLD’S DEATH
- MAN THREW METH-FUELED ‘DEATH PARTY’ FOR HIS WIFE BEFORE SHE DIED