Former President Donald Trump shared an image containing Pepe the Frog, a meme designated as a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), in a recent social media post. The image was accompanied by a phrase associated with QAnon, a far-right conspiracy theory movement.
Pepe the Frog originated as a comic character created by Matt Furie in 2005. Initially, it gained popularity as a symbol for single men who felt socially awkward, but its use soon became politicized when Trump shared a version of Pepe in 2015.
The ADL added Pepe to its list of hate symbols in 2016, noting that while many uses of the meme are not rooted in bigotry or hate, some contexts can be bigoted. The organization emphasizes the importance of examining use of the meme in context.
Trump’s recent post was shared by a $PEPE account on X, which repeated the phrase “nothing can stop what is coming,” commonly seen as a QAnon slogan. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s post.
Pepe has also become a popular meme coin, with no intrinsic value or financial return. Trump recently hosted a dinner for top $PEPE investors who together invested millions in the coin, sparking ethics concerns.
Source: https://eu.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2025/05/29/pepe-the-frog-trump-truth-social/83917824007