5 Caption Formulas for Political Memes That Get Shared
Most political memes that spread fast use one of a handful of caption structures. Learn them and you’ll never stare at a blank caption box again. Here are five, with examples you can adapt.
1. The Contrast
Set what was said next to what happened. The gap between the two is the joke.
PROMISED: A SIMPLE FIX DELIVERED: A REVIEW OF THE REVIEW
This works because it doesn’t need an opinion. You’re just placing two facts side by side and letting the reader do the rest.
2. The Understatement
Describe something that is plainly not fine in a very calm voice.
THE INQUIRY WILL REPORT BACK (EVENTUALLY)
The more you downplay it, the funnier it gets. Keep the heading flat and put the dry aside in the subheading.
3. The “When You…”
A relatable moment, framed from the politician’s side.
WHEN YOU SAY “I’LL TAKE THAT ON NOTICE” AND THE NOTICE NEVER COMES
Phrases people already recognise from the news make this one work well. If your audience has to look the phrase up, pick a different one.
4. The Quote Flip
Take a stock political phrase and treat it as a sentence that actually means something.
“LET’S BE CLEAR” THE LEAST CLEAR THING SAID ALL DAY
The quote carries the setup, so your subheading can be very short.
5. The Literal Reading
Take a buzzword at face value and follow it through.
“WE’LL HIT THE GROUND RUNNING” AND THEN FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK
A literal reading of a phrase everyone’s heard a hundred times lands quickly, which is why it works so well at small sizes.
Tips that apply to all five
- Keep it short. Under about six words per line reads best on a phone screen.
- One joke per meme. If you want to use two formulas, make two memes.
- Match the formula to the news. The Contrast suits a promise that has been broken. The Understatement suits a slow, drawn-out process.
- Test it on one person first. If you have to explain it, it needs another pass.
Putting it into practice
Pick a formula, open the meme creator, and drop your lines into the heading and subheading boxes. You’ll see the result update as you type, so you can adjust the wording until it fits.
New to the tool? Start with our step-by-step guide to making a political meme.