Donald Trump’s White House has paid tribute to Harambe the gorilla in a bizarre social media post commemorating the late zoo animal who became a viral meme.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the US government’s official account hailed the “true patriot” beast, who died on May 28 at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the US. Harambe was shot and killed by a worker at the major zoo after he grabbed and dragged three-year-old Isaiah Dickerson, who was visiting the with his mum Michelle Gregg, into his enclosure over fears the 200kg great ape would kill him.
The death gained massive national attention in the US and became a viral meme amongst social media users, who mock mourned him and parodied the reasons behind his shooting. The “2016 viral meme of the year” appears to have been popular with Trump administration employees, who took the moment to write a detailed dedication online.
OPINION
Chris Hughes
View 3 ImagesHarambe became a meme following his death in 2016(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
The White House official X account hailed the gorilla as “something bigger than a meme”, a day ahead of the anniversary, and said he was “forever in our hearts”. The tribute read: “Tomorrow marks 10 years since we lost him. Ten years since the moment the world stopped scrolling and collectively mourned something bigger than a meme.
“He became a symbol of loyalty, strength, chaos, unity, and the strange beauty of the internet bringing millions of people together for one cause: never forgetting Harambe.
“Everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news. And somehow, a decade later, his legacy still lives on. Gone, but never forgotten. Rest easy to a true patriot. May 27, 1999 – May 28, 2016. Forever in our hearts.” The post, which also came with a peace dove and American flag emoji triggered a landslide of memes, briefly resurrecting an incident that attracted Trump’s attention in 2016.
View 3 ImagesThe White House penned a 123-word tribute to Harambe(Image: x)
Then a presidential candidate, Trump spoke of how it was “so beautiful to watch” Harambe with the child, who he appeared to be protecting after violently pulling the boy around his enclosure.
He told reporters during a press conference that he would not criticise zoo staff for opening fire on the beloved animal, but adding it was “too bad there wasn’t another way”. He said: “It was almost like a mother holding a baby … looked so beautiful and calm, and there were moments where [it] looked pretty dangerous.
“I don’t think they had a choice,” he said. “You have a child, a young child is at stake, and you know it’s too bad there wasn’t another way.”
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Harambe was a fully-grown gorilla when he died a decade ago, but was just 17 years old, having been born in captivity at a zoo in Brownsville, Texas, in May 1999. The White House official X account appears to have been largely dedicated to memes since Donald Trump returned to power, aggressively posting AI-generated propaganda which has included Trump dressed as a Star Wars Sith Lord.