When Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Donald Trump wasn't his bride, was he just being creative or was he actively trolling the U.S. president?
Putin's comments, which came in reply to a reporter asking whether he was disappointed with Trump, quickly made the rounds on social media.
And while Russia's president may or may not have intended to, he gave the internet plenty of memes to play with. Out came the classics...
…the fake magazine covers...
…the GIFs...
...the breakup scenarios...
….and the “Brokeback Mountain” references.
To other readers, Putin's statement sounded less like a cowboy romance and more like some emotional drama from way down south.
There were also attempts to find alternative titles for Trump's role in Putin's life, but few of them were fit to reproduce here. So, we'll just show you these two:
Even Trump himself – or rather, a parody account – spoke up on the topic. Ouch!
But the best consequence of Putin's statement was probably that it gave a last airing to a meme that has seen so many uses in recent weeks, it must be ready to retire.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
