Tennessee State Rep. Gloria Johnson (D) is suggesting that chanting “Let’s go Brandon” should be seen as similar to burning the American flag.
“As a friend said, I think it should be equated with burning the flag, in essence, that’s what they are doing,” Johnson (D) tweeted on Monday.
She added later, “Reading is fundamental. It’s not a legal take, it’s a person’s opinion. And as a few were smart enough to understand-both are protected speech.”
Reading is fundamental. It’s not a legal take, it’s a person’s opinion. And as a few were smart enough to understand-both are protected speech.
— Rep. Gloria Johnson (@VoteGloriaJ) November 17, 2021
The phrase “Let’s go, Brandon,” has been used as a euphemism for “f*ck Joe Biden,” which has been used by spectators of sporting events.
The alternative phrase began to gain momentum after an NBC reporter interviewed NASCAR race winner Brandon Brown. The crowd could be heard chanting, “F*ck Joe Biden.”
However, the reporter said, “As you can hear the chants from the crowd, ‘Let’s go, Brandon!”
On Friday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked what President Joe Biden thinks about the chant.
“I don’t think he spends much time focused on it or thinking about it,” she responded.
NBC News’ Peter Alexander noted that Biden vowed in his inauguration speech to “help get rid of the uncivil war in this country.” He asked, “Does the president think there are things he can do differently? Or how does he react to the stuff he sees out there when it is one of his primary promises or desires to help bring Americans together?”
“Well, it takes two to move toward a more civil engagement discourse in this country. And the president’s going to continue to operate — as you said — from the promise he made early on, which is that he wants to govern for all Americans,” Psaki said.
The phrase has made it into the halls of Congress when a Republican lawmaker ended his speech with the phrase, and another wore a mask with “Let’s go Brandon” on it.