An image of a seated, scowling U.S. senator with his arms tightly crossed amidst a standing ovation from President Donald Trump’s supporters has been embraced online by those dreading the president’s return to the oval office.
Bernie Sanders, the Independent senator for Vermont, attended Monday’s inauguration ceremony within the Capitol Rotunda and witnessed Trump taking the oath of office.
When Trump addressed the gathering and made mention of the direction the U.S. would take under his second term, Sanders’ displeasure was apparent and captured by television cameras.
Stills of Sanders quickly made their way to social media, with many finding solace in the feelings they shared with the senator.
I absolutely love Bernie Sanders 😅💀#Inauguration2025 pic.twitter.com/9C1Yx7MGap
— Brandon Benny (@island__stylin) January 20, 2025
Senator Bernie Sanders is the best.
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) January 20, 2025
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/BQRdJtETju
Inside or outside, Same pose. Bernie Sanders pic.twitter.com/3p46RvP3Fi
— ꜱᴏᴄᴄᴇʀᴘᴀᴇᴅɪᴀ (@soccerpaedia) January 20, 2025
While inauguration posts flooded social media on Monday, Sanders took to X to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.
Today, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his lifelong struggle against bigotry and injustice, and celebrate his commitment to democracy, workers’ rights and world peace.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 20, 2025
It is enormously important for the future of our country that we never forget Dr. King’s vision.
This isn’t the first time a Sanders inauguration day reaction garnered significant reaction online.
In 2021, a photograph of a grumpy Sanders at Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony, which was held outdoors on a chilly January day, made the rounds on social media. The senator looked less-than-impressed while wearing a large winter jacket, a face mask and a pair of handknit mittens given him to by a Vermont school teacher. The image of Sanders was soon photoshopped into different scenarios, with amateur editors attempting to outdo one another, and skyrocketing demand for the mitts.
