Updated

Updated · The Guardian · Aug 2

White House Shares Jimothy Meme in MAGA Cap as 2-Week Viral Raccoon Turns Political

Updated

Updated · The Guardian · Aug 2

White House Shares Jimothy Meme in MAGA Cap as 2-Week Viral Raccoon Turns Political

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 2

Late Wednesday, the White House posted a meme showing Jimothy the raccoon wearing a MAGA cap, pulling a newly viral animal into U.S. political branding.
Jimothy, a Seattle raccoon with short spine syndrome, went viral on Instagram about two weeks ago and quickly spawned fan art, merchandise, tattoos, a stadium theme night and a civic ceremony.
His appeal had rested on being broadly seen as cute and apolitical, part of a wider wave of internet animal stars that offer respite from a polarized online environment.
That made the White House post notable beyond the meme itself: it undercut the idea that Jimothy could remain one of the few shared, nonpartisan internet obsessions.

Sources

Left14%

Center14%

Right71%

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9 Sources

Is Jimothy’s viral fame a heartwarming community phenomenon, or a warning about how quickly social media can turn a wild animal into a spectacle?

Why do Jimothy’s rounded body and awkward gait inspire such intense affection, and what can psychology and meme culture explain about his sudden fame?