A stark image featuring text that compares Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler has resonated with both sides of the heated US presidential election.
“Dear Americans,” begins the meme created by an anonymous German man living in the US.
“Go ahead, vote for the guy with the loud voice who hates minorities, threatens to imprison his opponents … What could possibly go wrong?”
Concluding with the hashtag, “#BeenThereDoneThat”, the message is a clear reference to the fascist German leader responsible for the genocide of six million Jews between 1941 and 1945.
The meme, posted by the creator under the pseudonym, Johan Franklin, gained traction online after it was retweeted by Hillary Clinton supporter Mikey Walsh.
“Oh look, a message from our friends overseas,” wrote Mr Franklin, before allegedly being flooded by threatening messages from Donald Trump supporters.
On Monday, Mr Franklin took to Twitter to clarify that the meme had not come from Ms Clinton’s camp, and that he was indeed a German citizen.
“Of course I can’t speak for the entire population of Germany,” Mr Franklin wrote.
“I used [the people of Germany line] as a way of overdramatising to add emphasis.”
Mr Franklin argued the comparison with Hitler was not meant to be a literal one, writing: “He’s more of a Goebbels type of guy – very media-savvy.”
“Whenever I travelled outside Germany in the past, I’ve often been asked how the German people could have fallen for Hitler back in the 30s and 40s.
“‘How could your people not have known?’ they asked.
“I don’t get that question much lately.”
The #dearamericans letter didn't come from the HC campaign, but from a German. Who lives in San Diego now. Still German. #beentheredonethat pic.twitter.com/xqBPU5p7r4
— Johan Franklin (@CrappyCrapson) November 6, 2016
Live News
