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Twitter's coping with the Boris Johnson news by posting Donald Trump memes

By Shereesa Moodley

24 Jul 2019

Former Mayor of London, Boris Johnson will be the next UK prime minister, beating rival Jeremy Hunt by a clear margin in the race to lead the Conservative Party. Although not in office yet (he assumes that position on Wednesday), Twitter isn't handling the news well.

Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson. Image credit: Conservative Party.

“Thank you all for the incredible honour you have done me,” he said in a victory tweet on Tuesday afternoon. “The time for campaigning is over and the time for work begins to unite our country and party, deliver Brexit and defeat [opposition leader Jeremy] Corbyn. I will work flat out to repay your confidence.”

“Boris Johnson” is trending worldwide and in South Africa, as users both in the UK and beyond come to grips with the news.

Here's what happens next ��

��Our new leader @BorisJohnson.#BackBoris pic.twitter.com/KZfYDmMA17
— Conservatives (@Conservatives) July 23, 2019

Johnson’s US counterpart, Donald Trump, lead the congratulations. “He will be great,” Trump added.

Congratulations to Boris Johnson on becoming the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He will be great!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2019

Leader of the Brexit Party Nigel Farage wished Johnson well, but questioned if he has the “courage to deliver” Brexit.

Jeremy Hunt believed that Johnson will be a “great PM for [the UK] at this critical moment”.

I wish @BorisJohnson well as Prime Minister with his do or die pledge to deliver Brexit on October 31st. Does he have the courage to deliver?
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) July 23, 2019

Congratulations @BorisJohnson 4 a campaign well https://t.co/b1rmrIHic6'll be a great PM for our country at this critical moment!Throughout campaign you showed optimism,energy & unbounded confidence in our wonderful country & we need that.All best wishes from the entrepreneur :-)
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) July 23, 2019

Some lamented the fact that the UK prime minister is elected by part members and not the general public.

0.2% of the population voted to make Boris Johnson PM. It’s embarrassing for the Tory party that he was the best they could do, devastating for democracy and horrifying for the country.
— Sandi Toksvig (@sanditoksvig) July 23, 2019

Others, well, were present for the memes, and the obvious comparison between the trans-Atlantic leaders.

“Boris Johnson and Donald Trump planning on ways to destroy the world,” read one tweet.

Boris Johnson and Donald Trump planning on ways to destroy the world. pic.twitter.com/EBEEuWPFG5
— Luenic Luke (@luenic) July 23, 2019

Behold the new axis of weevil.#DonaldTrump #BorisJohnson pic.twitter.com/kRrnzFGmZ1
— Calm Observer (@Calm_Observer) July 23, 2019

While the country copes through humour, there’s a lot of work for Johnson to do when he’s inaugurated tomorrow.

There’s still no solution to the now three-year-old Brexit saga. And a no-deal Brexit could mean a collapse of legislation and trade deals between the UK and the European Union. Well, that, and a lot more.

But spare a thought in particular to the real prime minister of the UK, 10 Downing Street resident Larry The Cat.

Today, we’re all that child#NextPrimeMinister pic.twitter.com/2nyIm5mfaC
— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) July 23, 2019

Shereesa Moodley

About Shereesa Moodley

Shereesa is a passionate writer who often delves into the world of social media, online trends and all things photography. She is also a journalism graduate of Rhodes University and can be found frequenting YouTube and Instagram. She lurks on Twitter too, sometimes.