The Brief: The #MAGACHALLENGE is a trend in which supporters upload pro-Trump raps to social media for a chance to meet the president and perform at the White House.
DEEP DIVE
The #MAGACHALLENGE first kicked off in early September, when rapper Bryson Gray uploaded a video titled “#MAGACHALLENGE” to YouTube. The track includes his verse followed by an instrumental section for fellow Trump supporters to make their own versions. Bryson then uploaded a forty-second clip of himself dancing to the song to Twitter, which President Trump retweeted nearly two months later, officially endorsing the challenge.
With the chance to meet the president and perform at the White House on the line, Trump supporters have been flooding Twitter and Instagram with raps praising the president, advocating for gun rights, condemning abortion, and most importantly, “owning the libs.”
Gray told The Daily Dot that his goal was to accomplish “what everybody expected Kanye West to do for the [Trump] campaign” by making the song, which, regardless of your political views, is an absolute banger.
I will be announcing the winners of the #MAGACHALLENGE and inviting them to the @WhiteHouse to meet with me and perform. Good luck! https://t.co/3PYzOvYz17
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 8, 2019
Giving some straight facts to you on the #MAGACHALLENGE 🔥🔥! Never rapped before so this is my first time. Enjoy 💕. pic.twitter.com/YJpSlcGWfT
— Charrise Lane (@CharriseLane) September 28, 2019
I hope you’ll consider my #MAGAChallenge, Mr. President. I had a blast making this. pic.twitter.com/YAd2VnaLR4
— Richard Armande Mills (RAM) (@RAMRANTS) November 8, 2019
WE’RE NOT DONE! #MAGACHALLENGE he told me not to tag him 😂😂😂 SHARE pic.twitter.com/HtGwCawiue
— Jessica Voss (@Jessica_Voss_) November 8, 2019
YES I’M A BLACK WOMAN! YES I SUPPORT @realDonaldTrump AND HERE’S WHY…. #MAGACHALLENGE pic.twitter.com/gBGyBMUVkF
— Angela Stanton-King (@theangiestanton) November 8, 2019
#magachallenge #maga #kag @realDonaldTrump @RealCandaceO @w_terrence @SuriusVsVodka @hodgetwins pic.twitter.com/hLJezAZCFk
— Official DVS 7.0 (@dvs7_0) September 24, 2019
Did someone say #MAGAChallange well MAGAmama is always up for a challenge!! @SuriusVsVodka pic.twitter.com/UCEKv8bPPY
— Maybe she will maybe she won’t💋 (@SchumeMae) September 19, 2019
I couldn’t resist #MAGAChallange @SuriusVsVodka #MAGA 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 #KAG pic.twitter.com/4UG4FAY7Hs
— BIGG_BUMP (@BIGG_BUMP) September 19, 2019
View this post on Instagram
Figured I’d sprinkle a little bit of that good good on the #MAGAchallenge @brysoncreates
View this post on Instagram
Figured I’d sprinkle a little bit of that good good on the #MAGAchallenge @brysoncreates
View this post on Instagram
However, many on Twitter were critical of the challenge, accusing Trump of pandering and some even calling for his impeachment:
here’s my #MAGACHALLENGE entry!! xoxo pic.twitter.com/iBMKiU6XZe
— ellie poole (@redpepperjellie) November 8, 2019
Oh my god. I just felt a piece of my soul die. This is so wrong, from every angle. Trump is using you…he is commanding you to dance and sing for him, for his own aggrandizement.
Plus you probably had to donate to him for the honor of debasing yourself. #MAGACHALLENGE https://t.co/KgElRh7WUl
— MoonlessMidnight (@MoonlessMidnt) November 8, 2019
How about instead of hosting some cheap and contrived #MAGACHALLENGE like some kind of pandering reality TV show host, you use your actual power as President of the United States to free all those serving life in prison for non-violent marijuana crimes.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) November 8, 2019