Jerome Powell: From Central Banker to Gen Z Meme King
Memes traditionally gravitate toward pop stars, politicians, and villains. But recently, the internet has found an unlikely figure to embrace: a central banker.
Jerome Powell, the 72-year-old chair of the Federal Reserve, has unexpectedly become a viral sensation on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. He’s being remixed into high-energy techno tracks and featured in fan edits typically reserved for K-Pop stars, transforming the famously reserved technocrat into a symbol of defiance against a potential second Trump governance.
A Surprise Selection and Shifting Priorities
Powell’s journey to internet fame is rooted in his political history. Initially chosen by Donald Trump to replace Janet Yellen as Federal Reserve chair in 2017, Trump reportedly appreciated Powell’s “central casting” appearance. However, Powell surprised many by continuing and even expanding upon Yellen’s focus on “full employment” as a key mandate for the Fed.
In August 2020, Powell announced a revision to the Fed’s monetary policy framework, prioritizing a “broad-based and inclusive goal” of maximum employment, even if it meant allowing the economy to run hotter to get Americans back to work. This decision drew criticism from those who warned of potential inflation .The subsequent aggressive rate hikes in 2022 and 2023 shifted the focus, but during the “Great Resignation,” Powell was seen as a champion for workers, notably among millennials, who viewed him favorably .
Gen Z Discovers the Fed Chair
Now,it appears Gen Z is recognizing the appeal their older siblings did years ago. The trend gained momentum with a video created by Democratic strategist and YouTuber Keith Edwards. Inspired by the “We are Charlie Kirk” song popularized by conservatives, Edwards flipped the script, creating “We are Jerome Powell.”
“We are Jerome powell, we carry the line,” the AI-generated lyrics proclaim. “Not to a man – but to law and time.”
Edwards utilized AI to generate both the lyrics and the accompanying video. He observed a shift in internet culture, noting that “conservative ideas travel faster on the internet now,” and framed the meme as a “tactical necessity” in an “information war.” He believes Powell represents a crucial “grenade” in this battle.
A Symbol of resistance
Powell’s image as a symbol of resistance solidified after he released a video statement confirming a Justice Department subpoena related to Federal Reserve office renovations. He explicitly characterized the inquiry as politically motivated pressure stemming from his reluctance to lower interest rates quickly. This stance resonated online, positioning him as a defender of institutional norms and a figure who “does things by the book.”
This echoes a similar phenomenon seen with Robert Mueller, the former FBI chief and special counsel, who also became a meme-worthy figure of resistance .
The Appeal of Authenticity and the Changing Relationship with the Fed
Internet culture researcher Aiden Walker suggests the appeal of Powell lies in his lack of conventional “coolness.” The “alchemy,” as Walker describes it, is in the contrast: placing a “venerable” and “unassuming” figure like Powell into the typically vibrant world of K-Pop fancams creates a “gently subversive irony.”
Walker also emphasizes Powell’s “authenticity.” “He’s an old banker, he’s been around the block,” Walker said. The image of Powell and Trump in construction hats, arguing over renovation costs, exemplifies this authenticity – he’s clearly uncomfortable in the setting, yet remains true to himself.
This newfound attention coincides with a broader shift in public perception of the Federal Reserve. The rise of commission-free trading apps like Robinhood and the “meme stock” phenomenon have brought financial markets closer to the average investor. J.P. Morgan reports that retail activity reached an all-time-high of 36% of total order flow on April 29,2025,demonstrating increased retail investor participation.
This increased engagement fosters a new familiarity with figures like Powell, even among those who might traditionally be skeptical of the federal Reserve. “There’s a fandom logic now,” Walker explains. “And he’s kind of a fun, ironic figure, because he clearly doesn’t want to be famous necessarily. It’s just kind of been forced.”
AI, Accelerationism, and the Digital Landscape
The speed at which this meme has spread is a testament to the power of AI-generated content. In 2026, unlike in 2016, a political meme can saturate the internet in a matter of hours . AI allows for rapid creation and dissemination of edits responding to current events, turning news into a spectacle of participation.
This phenomenon aligns with the concept of “accelerationism,” where injecting a traditional figure like Powell into the AI-meme cycle hijacks the federal Reserve’s image and accelerates it beyond institutional control. This process, described by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari as “deterritorialization,” transforms Powell into a digital “vibe.” The meme, in this context, becomes a “hyperstition,” a digital fiction that influences our perception of institutional stability, much like William Gibson’s cyberpunk visions shaped the early internet .
Despite the seemingly frivolous nature of the Powell meme, walker believes it’s a positive sign that Gen Z is paying attention. “I’d say there’s a lot of people who probably saw a reel like that, and maybe Googled who he was or what he said,” Walker said. “We are Jerome Powell, it out-ironies the ironic post because it makes it sincere again, because we enjoy him.”
