A political, generational, and very bratty movement that could change everything.
Despite the sweltering heat, a chill vibe is sweeping through America’s political atmosphere, and it's all adding up to a Kamala Harris "Brat Summer."
Over the course of a little over a week, it seems the dark clouds of an imminent dystopia parted as Biden bowed out and quickly put his support behind Vice President Harris.
Who knew that British pop star Charli XCX would ignite a wave of party enthusiasm behind her? Her viral tweet, "kamala IS brat," which at the time of writing this article has reached 54 million people, led to a complete rebrand.
Charli XCX has been quoted saying brat is the essence of a girl who is "very honest, very blunt, a little bit volatile." While starting off autobiographical, "brat" has morphed into a term to represent bold, unapologetic individuals where specifics are up to you.
The subsequent viral TikTok edits have leaned into the neon green aesthetic coupled with audio variations of her single “360” and the widely memed and remixed "coconut tree" clip.
Nearly 80% of U.S. adults under 30 use TikTok, compared to 39% of those aged 30 to 49, 24% of those aged 50 to 64, and only 10% of those 65 and older. The growing preference among younger voters to engage with a platform criticized and targeted by older politicians is being utilized by Kamala’s campaign team to elicit new meaningful public engagement.
In one of Harris's latest TikTok posts, the VP made her case as the prime alternative to Trump, with a boost from rising pop star Chappell Roan. The campaign cleverly set this to Roan's 2022 track "Femininomenon," contrasting shots of Trump golfing in his signature MAGA hat with vibrant stills of Harris. This video is the account's most popular, with 54.7 million views. If you look past the bots and trolls, the responses have been widely positive from younger voters, “I am so ready to exist within the context,” commented Lex, “This account is gonna win the Gen Z vote,” wrote Justine.
The wave of support continues to surge. Hot Girl Summer rapper Megan Thee Stallion headlined a rally at the Georgia State University Convocation Center in Atlanta, performing for a crowd of around 10,000. She introduced a new battle cry for Harris's supporters: "Hotties for Harris." And yes, t-shirts are already on sale.
With the 2024 presidential race intensifying, Harris's campaign has cleverly harnessed this viral trend approach. Kamala HQ’s latest TikTok is a clip of the Atlanta rally over Mustards beat from Kendrick Lamar’s smash hit “Not Like Us.” In the clip Harris squares up to Trump, “Donald, I do hope you’ll reconsider meeting me on the debate stage. Because, as the saying goes, if you’ve got something to say, say it to my face.” It’s refreshing to just call a spade a spade. Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, are most certainly not like us when it comes to our generation's core beliefs, morals, values, and progressive ideals.
In a recent CNN interview, DNC Delegate Prachitha Porika spoke about the sudden interest of Gen Z, “There was this huge shift from the conversation of Biden vs. Trump and people not even being motivated to show up and vote, and all of a sudden, just like that, we realized Gen Z can get their ass off their couch they can get up and organize they just needed the right people in office to inspire them to do it.”
As the 2024 election approaches, could "Brat Summer" signal a new era in political campaigns? Will this meme-powered surge knock Donald Trump off his pedestal this November? While the answer is still up for debate, there's no denying that Gen Z is making waves and shaking up the future of American politics in a big way.
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