# Trump reference to "Brandon" at debate **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [June 29, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494 "2024-06-29T16:09:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494/1 "2024-06-29T16:09:20Z")
I have not closely followed the history of the MAGA “Let’s go Brandon” insult (?) but I know I heard him refer to Brandon early on in the debate. As I recall he just slipped it in without any context. Did I imagine that? If not, was he just trying to act cool in front of his friends? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494/2 "2024-06-29T16:12:57Z")
Can’t answer your question, but to this day I still don’t understand the reference or where it came from, which likely means that it’s moronic. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494/3 "2024-06-29T16:14:49Z")
If I recall correctly, it originated at a Trump rally where his fans were screaming, “Fuck Joe Biden!” in unison. To some ears, it sounded like, “Let’s go, Brandon!” So Brandon became a shortcut to say fuck Joe Biden. It’s a not-subtle dog whistle to Trump devotees. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494/4 "2024-06-29T16:17:04Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > If I recall correctly, it originated at a Trump rally where his fans were screaming, “Fuck Joe Biden!” in unison. It was a NASCAR race, and the announcer was interviewing a driver named Brandon. The crowd behind him was chanting “Fuck Joe Biden!” and the announcer tried to cover it up by saying “these fans really like you - they’re yelling ‘Let’s go Brandon’”. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494/5 "2024-06-29T16:21:31Z")
> [@2\_More\_Bits](#): > > I have not closely followed the history of the MAGA “Let’s go Brandon” insult (?) but I know I heard him refer to Brandon early on in the debate. As I recall he just slipped it in without any context. Did I imagine that? If not, was he just trying to act cool in front of his friends? It’s possible Trump said it accidentally. He called Biden “Joe Bride” in a recent public speech. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494/6 "2024-06-29T16:22:16Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > > [@Aspenglow](#): > > > > If I recall correctly, it originated at a Trump rally where his fans were screaming, “Fuck Joe Biden!” in unison. > > It was a NASCAR race, and the announcer was interviewing a driver named Brandon. The crowd behind him was chanting “Fuck Joe Biden!” and the announcer tried to cover it up by saying “these fans really like you - they’re yelling ‘Let’s go Brandon’”. Which sucked for Brandon Brown. It was his first major win and it was overshadowed by the chant. Not only that he had trouble getting sponsors after that despite not wanting to be involved in politics at all. He just got caught in the crossfire ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494/7 "2024-06-29T16:34:34Z")
IIRC Joe da Plumber made some coin from his inadvertent fame. Perhaps Brandon Brown can do the same. Or perhaps he has scruples and politics not based simply on opportunism and hate. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494/8 "2024-06-29T16:38:52Z")
He tried to capitalize on it by being sponsored by the “Let’s Go Brandon” crypto coin LGBcoin, but NASCAR didn’t allow it on the car. Brown was able to work out some personal endorsement deals with LGBcoin > **['Let's Go Brandon' race driver signs 8-figure sponsorship deal](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10387695/Lets-Brandon-race-driver-Brandon-Brown-signs-eight-figure-sponsorship-deal-LGB-crypto.html)** > > NASCAR Xfinity series driver Brandon Brown signed a two-year sponsorship deal with 'Let's Go Brandon' LGBcoin cryptocurrency, but he is banned from advertising it on his car. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494/9 "2024-06-29T16:40:12Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > It was a NASCAR race, and the announcer was interviewing a driver named Brandon. The crowd behind him was chanting “Fuck Joe Biden!” and the announcer tried to cover it up by saying “these fans really like you - they’re yelling ‘Let’s go Brandon’”. Thanks for reminding me more specifically how the meme arose. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494/10 "2024-06-29T16:47:18Z")
And there is the “reclaimed” version of the meme, which Biden has been winking towards - Dark Brandon. > **['Dark Brandon' meme makes an appearance on Biden's new campaign website](https://www.npr.org/2023/04/25/1171885259/dark-brandon-meme-makes-an-appearance-on-bidens-new-campaign-website)** > > President Biden's 2024 reelection campaign team has embraced his darker alter ego — "Dark Brandon," featuring beaming red laser eyes. It shows up on error pages and T-shirts. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494/11 "2024-06-29T17:12:37Z")
Trump did say it at the debate. I don’t recall the context, but OP heard correctly. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494/12 "2024-06-29T19:24:00Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Trump did say it at the debate. I don’t recall the context, but OP heard correctly “I said, close the border. We had the safest border in history. In that final couple of months of my presidency, we had, according to Border Patrol – who is great, and, by the way, who endorsed me for president. But I won’t say that. But they endorsed me for president. Brandon, just speak to him. But, look, we had the safest border in history. Now we have the worst border in history. There’s never been anything like it. And people are dying all over the place, including the people that are coming up in caravans.” ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494/13 "2024-06-29T20:16:32Z")
Maybe someone offered him $10,000 to sneak it in there. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-reference-to-brandon-at-debate/1003494/14 "2024-06-29T23:03:36Z")
I saw this " Let’s go Brandon" in a group text once. I wrote “Brandon won! 🤣” and it did not go over very well. I was going to sign up on Truth Social with the handle “Brandon1” or “BrandonOne” but never got around to it.