Netizens Decry Mainstream Media for Hypocrisy Over ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Fuss

On Friday, the president and the first lady participated in a "Santa Tracker" session with NORAD officials to interact with callers looking for Santa Claus. One caller, identified as Jared from Oregon, closed his family's call with the words "Let's Go Brandon," which is normally meant as a dig at the president.

Over the weekend, multiple media outlets chastised a man who yelled "Let's Go Brandon" at President Joe Biden on Christmas Eve.

The incident is reminiscent of one that took place in October, when many pundits discussed an airline pilot controversially signing off with the now-famous phrase, with journalists in the mainstream media labeling the phrase and its use in that situation "vulgar" and "vitriol," even comparing those who use it to ISIS sympathizers.

And while many commentators back then responded with criticism to the media noise around this seemingly harmless phrase, the pattern apparently continued after media identified the Christmas Day caller as Jared Schmeck, a former Oregon police officer.

Schmeck has since claimed that the sentence was said "in a joking manner," and that he meant no disrespect towards the president.

Still, several media outlets went to call the use of the phrase a "right-wing slur" and "vulgar insult."

"How many kids get the opportunity to talk to the President of the United States on Christmas Eve while they await Santa? The lack of decency and respect by the dad on this call is horrid. I hope those kids grow up to be a better person than their father," asked former Trump White House official Olivia Troye.

Consider the mentality here of the father whose child is excited to talk about Santa Claus and then also gets to talk to the president and First Lady, but he waits out the end of the call to sneak in a cutesy way of flipping off the president on Christmas Eve: https://t.co/1Qh46eSC3q

— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) December 24, 2021

The Atlantic's Ron Brownstein compared the phrase to an "insurrection" during an on-air segment.

CNN is PISSED that a parent would say "Let's Go Brandon" to Biden directly. Analyst says it's ungracious. It's juvenile. It's reprehensible...and (this is CNN)...it's about "insurrection." pic.twitter.com/vRRIZagEvb

— Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) December 26, 2021

So many people are broken. I know we’re all supposed to say this isn’t a big deal but that’s dumb. It is a big deal that a third of the country is angry and crazy. https://t.co/b1i4D7IWVB

— Susan J. Demas 🏔 (@sjdemas) December 24, 2021

However, social media users took to Twitter to start a trend, noting some big discrepancies in the media reaction to the much harsher way the previous president was addressed, as many in the media and in public appearances literally said "F*ck Trump" during his four years in office.

Some instances of this vulgarity were not only tolerated, but even reportedly pushed and glorified by the media.

And this👇 pic.twitter.com/V6Lb0PUNrI

— XI Variant (@BigBobulinsky) December 26, 2021

When it’s us // when it’s you pic.twitter.com/tospfdxR1a

— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) December 26, 2021

"If you’re truly upset that Jared Schmeck said “Let’s go Brandon” to former Vice President Joe Biden and okay with people saying “F*ck Donald Trump, you might be brainwashed," wrote one user.

What consequences should there be for Americans expressing their dislike of the President?

How many times have people said F Trump in the last few years? This is just a blatant double standard and the pearl clutching over Let’s Go Brandon is quite pathetic. https://t.co/iiXa1OU1AO

— Oliver Jia (オリバー・ジア) (@OliverJia1014) December 26, 2021

"Leftists screamed “F*CK TRUMP” for 4 years, and now they act like they’re going to faint at the word “Brandon” LMFAOOOO," said another user in the face of countercriticism from Biden supporters.

"How is “F*ck Trump" accepted speech, but "Let's Go Brandon" a right-wing slur?" Willie Montague, a Republican candidate for Congress from Florida, wrote. "Oh right, because the media is just a bunch of frauds."

Some on Twitter recalled the repeated, very ambiguous from the moral point of view, statements by Hollywood actor Robert De Niro, who in public speeches more than once called Trump "a piece of sh*t" and wished a "bag of sh*t" was thrown in his face.

And some recalled other public figures such as journalists previously calling out Trump, but who are now apparently offended by the "Let's Go, Brandon" chant.

Robert De Niro a couple of years ago said that he hopes that President Trump gets hit in the face with a "bag of s--t."

I have no patience for people on the left still complaining about Let's Go Brandon.

— Miles Commodore (@miles_commodore) December 23, 2021

Louise can you explain this? https://t.co/PAPWyKmGE3 pic.twitter.com/mxeejLNhR3

— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) December 26, 2021

"I find it incredibly comical that everybody upset about this Brandon thing also has a history of screaming f*ck Trump proudly. Classic hypocrites," wrote reporter Shane Murphy.

pic.twitter.com/21Hjzr6t9Q

— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) December 26, 2021

pic.twitter.com/EDBb41W6yM

— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) December 26, 2021

The above-discussed phrase arose after a reporter said in October during live coverage of a NASCAR race that fans yelling "F*ck Joe Biden" were actually yelling "Let's Go Brandon" in response to driver Brandon Brown.

Mocking the president and media reporters who attack Biden critics has since become a media craze.

And during that conversation, which sparked the national controversy, Biden seemed totally unconcerned about the term used to address him, simply asking where the caller was from and even adding that he "agreed" with the chant.