The Memeification Of Kamala Harris | Colbert Is Brat | Trump Struggles To Attack Harris

Welcome, welcome one and all to The Late Show! I'm your host Stephen Colbert. I hope all of you have stretched out your hammies because it's a full-on sprint to the upcoming election. We’ve got 104 days, and we are not stopping till November 5th. So grab a Gatorade and slap some Band-Aids on your nipples because the journey’s on.

Harris Secures Democratic Nomination

Biden dropped out and endorsed Kamala Harris on Sunday, and as of today—Tuesday—she's already secured enough delegate endorsements to win the Democratic presidential nomination. To put that in perspective, it's been more than three years and we still don't have a new James Bond. And by the way, Joe is available and looks good in a tux.

With the delegates squared away, the Democrats plan to hold a virtual nomination by August 7th. If this feels fast for Americans, remember, it just makes us more like other democracies. In the UK, campaigns last about five to six weeks, and in France, no longer than two weeks. So we’re just doing this election Euro style, filling out the ballots with baguettes while sitting on those toilets with the butt fountains (bidets, for the cultured).

Campaign Fundraising Overflow

Democrats everywhere are feeling enthusiastic; Kamala's campaign broke a single-day fundraising record with 1.1 million individual donors. Sixty percent of those donors were making their first contribution to the 2024 cycle. Sunday night, Harris raised $ 1.5 million on a Zoom call attended by 44,000 black women. It was so heavily attended that organizers had to ask Zoom to extend the meeting's capacity limit. Didn’t know you could just call up Zoom for favors. Interesting.

Last night, Harris visited campaign headquarters and received a call from a big supporter—Joe Biden. They clearly share a deep bond, with Kamala describing the Bidens as family. Joe even chimed in during her address, endearingly sticking around like an inspiring disembodied voice—very Obi-Wan Kenobi-esque.

Kamala: The Meme Candidate

Kamala Harris has already carved out a reputation as the meme candidate with viral speeches like, "You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?" This kind of Whiplash tone shift could lead to some very interesting presidential announcements.

The internet is abuzz with coconut memes, and Kamala's own website humorously joins the trend. An error message on her site reads, "This page exists in the context of all that came before it." Harris fans have been remixing the coconut clip into songs by Taylor Swift, Charli XCX, and Beyoncé. Charli XCX even tweeted that "Kamala is brat," leading the Harris team to give their official Twitter profile a brat theme.

Mainstream Media's Brat Obsession

Meanwhile, CNN's Jake Tapper attempted to decipher this "brat" phenomenon. He explained it as someone who is a little messy, likes to party, and may say dumb things sometimes. His earnest but somewhat awkward explanation shows how mainstream media is struggling to keep up with meme culture and internet trends.

Trump's Reaction

The Democrats' swift maneuvering with Harris has clearly flustered Trump, who posted grievances about having to restart efforts against a new candidate. He even mocked Biden for allegedly forgetting that he dropped out.

Trump's attacks on Harris have been lackluster, including the awkward nickname "Laughing Kamala." His frustration reflects deeper feelings, especially considering he once donated $ 5,000 to Harris’s campaign when she was running for California attorney general. Fox News didn’t hesitate to spin this as a bombshell revelation: "Kamala Harris took money from convicted felon."

Closing Thoughts

As the election heats up, expect more memes, fundraising records, and some desperate attacks from Trump. But for now, Harris’s campaign is riding high on viral popularity and unprecedented support.

We've got a great show tonight featuring Matthew McConaughey and director Jon M. Chu. But first, I’ll be answering some kid questions. Stick around!

Keywords

Kamala Harris
Stephen Colbert
Democratic Nomination
Joe Biden
Fundraising
Meme Candidate
Trump
Brat Theme
Internet Culture
Election 2024

FAQ

Q: How quickly did Kamala Harris secure the Democratic nomination?
A: Kamala Harris secured the Democratic nomination within 48 hours after Biden dropped out and endorsed her.

Q: How successful has Kamala Harris been in fundraising?
A: Kamala Harris broke a single-day fundraising record with 1.1 million individual donors. Sixty percent were first-time contributors to the 2024 cycle.

Q: Why is Kamala Harris being called a 'meme candidate'?
A: Kamala Harris has gained a reputation as a meme candidate due to viral speeches and internet trend integrations, such as the 'coconut tree' meme and adopting a “brat” theme on her official social media.

Q: What was Trump’s reaction to Biden dropping out?
A: Trump expressed frustration and confusion, as this forces him to start over in his campaign efforts. He also attempted to mock Biden for allegedly forgetting about his withdrawal.

Q: Did Trump ever support Kamala Harris in the past?
A: Yes, when Kamala Harris was running for California attorney general, Trump donated $ 5,000 to her campaign.

Q: How has Kamala Harris's campaign connected with digital culture?
A: Harris’s campaign has successfully engaged with digital culture through memes, remix videos on TikTok from popular artists, and an internet-savvy social media presence.