'Let's go, Brandon': what it means and why some in the US keep chanting it

As Joe Biden nears the second half of his term as US President, the seemingly cheery "Let's go, Brandon" chant still follows him around.

But this message is not actually about cheering for someone named Brandon — instead, it has become a code for those in conservative circles for "[Expletive] Joe Biden".

Critics have latched on to the chant, using it — and its more obscene substitute — more and more frequently, such as when Mr Biden visited Chicago last month to promote his vaccine-or-test mandate.

The chant also followed Mr Biden to Virginia last week, popping up when he campaigned for Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic candidate for state governor.

So, how did the meme make it into the mainstream?

How the chant's popularity spread

US leaders being jeered is not uncommon. Former president Donald Trump was the subject of many memes and chants, including "[Expletive] Trump” and “Covfefe".

The “Let's go, Brandon” trend began on October 2, 2001, after Nascar driver Brandon Brown won his first Xfinity Series at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.

While an NBC Sports reporter interviewed the euphoric driver after his victory, the crowd could be heard chanting in the background.

At first, the words to the chant were difficult to make out and the reporter suggested they were saying, “Let's go, Brandon".

But it soon became clear they were chanting "[Expletive] Joe Biden".

The chant's G-rated language has made it easier to go viral. Unlike the crude phrase that it substitutes, “Let's go, Brandon” cannot be banned on social media platforms.

“It's not a search term that they were going to limit,” researcher Hampton Stall told NPR.

“There's a difference between calls for violence and this sort of wink that the 'Let's go, Brandon' meme is.”

Who's using the chant?

A man from Oregon heckled Mr Biden and his wife Dr Jill Biden with the viral motto during a livestream Christmas Eve last year.

Mr Biden, apparently unaware of the meme's meaning, replied to the man: "Let's go, Brandon, I agree".

The chant even followed Ms Biden, who was booed by a raucous crowd during an NFL game in Philadelphia.

“Let's go, Brandon” has not been limited to the fringes of the president's travel schedule. Republican members of Congress have also used it.

Bill Posey, a representative from Florida, ended a speech on the House floor last year in which he excoriated Mr Biden's agenda by saying “Let's go, Brandon”, accompanied by a quick fist pump.

A week later, Jeff Duncan of South Carolina wore a “Let's go, Brandon” face mask.

“Americans are fed up and we're making our voices heard,” Mr Duncan said in a Facebook post in which he shared the photo, adding his frustrations on immigration and vaccine mandates.

Ted Cruz, a senator from Texas, shared a photo of himself with a Houston Astros fan at Game 2 of the 2021 World Series who was holding a “Let's go, Brandon” sign.

School counsellors on mental well-being

Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.

Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.

Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.

“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.

“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.

“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.

“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”

Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.

The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.

At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.

“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.

“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.

"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”

Whiile you're here

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Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem

Rating: 4/5