The "Assad Must Go" meme, which shows the (now) former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad asking in return, "Who must go?" has returned in internet discourse.

What's known as the "Assad Curse" might finally be (knock on wood) broken, because rebel forces in the Middle Eastern country have ousted their longtime leader. The meme, which jokes about Assad's seemingly neverending reign, has resurfaced because, well, he actually might go now.

So, where did this meme come from? What does it mean and why is it trending again? Let's explain.

What's The 'Assad Must Go' Meme?

The Assad Must Go meme is a four-panel template that shows a hypothetical conversation between Syria's Bashar al-Assad and other world leaders. In the first two panels, the opponent states, "Assad must go," and Assad retorts, "Who must go?" He's seen putting his hand to his ear, trying to listen closely.

The punchline is shown in the last two panels. A news headline often fills the third, showing that the world leader who demanded Assad's termination is actually the one being ousted. A laughing Assad is shown in the final panel.

The meme riffs on Bashar al-Assad's reign in Syria which has outlasted many political careers elsewhere in the world, much to the dismay of the international community.




Where Did The 'Assad Must Go' Meme Come From?

Former U.S. President Barack Obama actually started the meme by coining the phrase, "Assad must go," in 2011. Other world leaders, like former British prime minister David Cameron, have also used the phrase when condemning the crimes of Assad's regime

In 2016, a Twitter / X user named @iadtawil created a humorous infographic about a so-called "'Assad must go' curse." It showed that any world leader who used the phrase had since been removed from power. The joke is that most were simply elected out of office, unlike the Syrian leader.

The proper, four-panel meme template was created later that same year. Although it most likely originates from 4chan, its earliest discovered upload was on X. It shows David Cameron akin to his statements noted previously.

Why Is The 'Assad Must Go' Meme Trending Now?

On Sunday morning, the 50-year reign of the Assad regime ended. Rebel forces overtook his presidential palace in Damascus after Assad reportedly fled the country. His whereabouts are currently unknown.

Photos of Syrian citizens taking selfies in and furniture out of Assad's palace have gone viral on social media. The buzz has resurfaced the Assad Must Go meme because it seems like Assad has actually left.

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For the full history of Assad Must Go, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.