First We Meme, Then We Craft

Author

Know Your Meme Team
April 07, 2025

This week, a classic meme cat was revived, the chicken jockey scene went nuclear, Cory Booker's filibuster went viral and more.

Donald Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs, also known as Donald Trump's Import Tariffs or Trump Recession, refers to a viral debate and controversy surrounding United States President Donald Trump's plans for sweeping new import taxes on all goods entering the country. The Trump tariffs were announced in early April 2025 during a press conference in front of the White House, during which the President stated a national economic emergency and announced tariffs that will range from 10 percent to 49 percent depending on the country. The tariffs' announcement quickly fueled memes, jokes and discourse of a possible economic recession or "second Great Depression" after Trump alleged the country could have avoided the 1929 Great Depression with the same tariffs strategy he announced. Numerous memes also appeared poking fun at the seemingly random countries and islands chosen, such as the uninhabited Heard Island and McDonald Islands that are mainly home to penguins.

Mario Kart World $80 Price Tag Controversy, also known as Nintendo Switch 2 Game Prices Controversy, refers to memes and discussions about the 2025 video game Mario Kart World (MKW), developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch 2. Announced during a Nintendo Direct presentation on April 2nd, 2025, the game is scheduled for release on June 5th, 2025, coinciding with the launch of the new console. ​The game will be available in both physical and digital formats, priced at $79.99 for the digital version and $89.99 for the physical edition. Numerous internet users reacted to the announcement and the cost of the game shortly after it was announced, comparing it to the $100 price tag of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV game and posting memes critical of the price increase.

Chimpanzini Bananini refers to an AI-generated Italian Brainrot meme character depicted as a hybrid between a monkey or chimpanzee and a banana. The creature first appeared as part of a TikTok video showing different monkey-fruit hybrids, including coconuts, bananas, pineapples and the like. The meme became popularized on TikTok and YouTube in late March 2025. Chimpanzini Bannanini is sometimes powerscaled against other AI brainrot memes that went viral online in early 2025, such as Bombardiro Crocodilo and Tralalero Tralala.

Antoine Dodson's interview saw him burst onto the internet scene and take over Billboard charts all in the same year. A decade down the line, the viral sensation is forging his own path.

Upcoming Meme-a-versaries

Here are this week's birthday memes celebrating their anniversaries from the storied halls of meme and internet history:

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