Trump's “they're eating the dogs” memes are not the drag some think they are

They're hilarious and shareable but now have zero context

I’ve been most amused by nearly all the “they're eating the dogs, they're eating the cats” memes that have flooded my feeds since the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on Tuesday night.

They’ve proved that the internet’s ability to respond in the least serious way to the most serious thing is unmatched. But they’ve also shown that a meme is an excellent and effective way to launder a conspiracy theory.

After Trump made the false and racist claim that Haitian immigrants were killing and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, many rushed to condemn him, quickly pointing out that he was elevating an online smear to the national stage.

The clip of his unhinged debate comments spread quickly causing “they’re eating the dogs” to trend on Twitter/X. The initial shock about what Trump said quickly gave way to humour. Social media users shared videos of their pets reacting to his tirade, like this cute (and concerned) cat, and this TikToker’s anxious dog that’s been watched more than 24 million times.

Some jokers even marked their pets as safe by redesigning a Facebook feature.

Then on Wednesday the TikTok remix duo CasaDi, who’ve created multiple viral songs for the platform, turned Trump’s comments into a catchy dance track sparking a content creation surge.

TikTokers lapped it up, making more than 27,000 posts with the audio. Several of the videos featuring the song have had millions of views, including one from dancer Sebastian Gonzalez Molina that’s been watched over 10 million times.

Jasmine Jennings, another dancer, got nearly three million views for her routine, while content creator Mak Ingemi, got over one million views by pointing out the absurdity of the politics to TikTok trend journey.

As Ingemi says it’s impossible to predict what will go viral. The internet is a group project after all. It’s also impossible to predict how something will go viral. In this case Trump’s comments have gone from being a rant that shocked millions to a TikTok song and dance that’s entertaining millions. Along the way it’s been stripped of all context and all that’s left is a catchy song and shareable videos.

It’s led some Trump supporters to claim that the eating the dogs trend is actually boosting the former president’s campaign.

I’m minded to agree. Anyone who interacts with a TikTok video using the CasaDi track who has a short memory (aka: the vast majority of us) or is unaware of the origin can absolutely be forgiven for thinking it’s just a bit of fun. It’s just Trump being unhinged, right?

But it’s absolutely not a bit of fun. Trump’s comments are dark and dangerous. The New York Times opinion writer Jamelle Bouie put it well by saying on TikTok: “I find myself worried that people aren’t taking seriously enough what Trump and Vance (his running mate who also pushed the claims) are doing here. What they are doing is called a blood libel.”

I don’t believe that many, if any, of those who’ve participated in the trend are aware that they’re mainstreaming Trump’s claims, but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening. In fact if it’s as successful as some of his supporters think then Trump will end up the winner of a debate that many have claimed he lost.

This week I’ve been…

OBSESSED WITH:

The Nara Smith x Ballerina Farm crossover/brand collab that no one saw coming. Trad wives/rage baiters/content geniuses unite!

Moo Deng, the internet’s latest, and cutest, viral star

Kourtney Kardashian Barker’s money grab

Kelley Heyer’s remarkable journey from creating the viral Apple dance to the MTV VMAs red carpet

READING: There's a Reason Chili's Is All Over Your FYP from the unmissable

Rachel Karten

WATCHING: Creator Elham Mohamud make the convincing argument that podcasting has “ruined” the celebrity interview

GETTING READY FOR: The start of oral arguments in the TikTok ban case. The hearing begins on Monday.

SCREAMING: Not Dave Grohl. Who can we actually trust?

TARGETED BY A RECRUITING SCAM: Fairly convincing emails and LinkedIn messages from tech companies offering jobs have become the latest online con. I was offered “an exciting opportunity” at WhatsApp out of the blue, and according to others the scammers are looking for a response so they can reply with virus-laden recruiting materials. Be warned!

highly flammable is produced and written by Rachel Richardson

She’s a content creator, commentator and consultant at Beginning, Middle and End

Want more? Check out Threads, Twitter/X and Instagram

Contact me at rr@bmend.com