The Democrats are going rude. As Donald Trump settles into his second term, a new type of liberal resistance has emerged online: “dark woke.”
Here are five things to now.
1. What Is Dark Woke
This viral aesthetic blends irreverent memes, provocative callouts, and unapologetically rude rhetoric aimed squarely at MAGA culture. It’s part meme, part political pushback—and some Democrats are embracing the movement.
2. A New ‘Dark Brandon’?
“Dark woke” is the chaotic cousin of the “Dark Brandon” meme that once gave President Biden a brief cool factor. Now, with Trump back in power and Republicans steamrolling policies through executive orders, this new wave of liberal trolling aims to channel frustration into action—or at least attention.
3. Fighting Back
As Bhavik Lathia, a progressive messaging consultant, puts it to The New York Times, “Republicans have essentially put Democrats in a respectability prison,” Bhavik Lathia. There is an extreme imbalance in strategy that allows Republicans to say stuff that really grabs voters’ attention, where we’re stuck saying boring pablum. I see this as a strategic shift within Democratic messaging — I’m a big fan of ‘dark woke.’”
4. What They Say
They have been creative. In stab at Pete Hegseth, who has been repeatedly accused of abusing alcohol, an X account named Democrats tweeted “Pete’s POV:” along with a blurry phone face, presumably accusing that Hegseth is so drunk he can not see clearly.
5. Can The Dems Do Rude?
Even as some elected officials flirt with Dark Woke. And while outlets like GQ have chronicled the rise of “dark woke,” they warn that it’s “a flimsy patchwork of amorphous vibes” with no plan for defeating an emboldened Trump regime. As GQ noted, “It’s a hashtag, a tweet format you can like and laugh at, rather than anything inspiring real-life organizing.”
Ultimately, “dark woke” is fueled by algorithmic rage, shaped by culture wars, and full of sharp-tongued comebacks.
