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Yes Cymru deletes Trump social media post following backlash

07 Nov 2024 4 minute read
Donald Trump – Image: Craig Ruttle

Emily Price

A Welsh independence organisation that repurposed a famous Donald Trump slogan has deleted a social media post after receiving an online backlash.

Yes Cymru published a post which read, “INDEPENDENCE WILL MAKE WALES GREAT AGAIN” to X, formerly Twitter, On Wednesday (November 6) shortly after the news broke that Trump had won the presidential election.

His victory marked a comeback for the former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.

MAGA

The famous slogan “Let’s Make America Great Again” was originally coined by former president Ronald Reagan during his 1980 presidential campaign.

Trump officially trademarked the phrase after slightly altering it to read, “Make America Great Again” – often shortened to MAGA – during his successful 2016 presidential campaign.

Eight years later the campaign is still selling millions of red hats emblazoned with the slogan which has become the hallmark of US rallies attended by devoted Trump supporters.

Several academics, journalists, and commentators have branded the slogan racially charged and have regarded it as dog-whistle politics.

Donald Trump wearing a MAGA sports cap – Image: Brian Lawless

Outrage

Yes Cymru deleted its variation of the catchphrase on X less than a day after it was first posted amid outrage from social media users.

Former Yes Cymru Director Ethan Jones said: “It is incredibly disappointing to see YesCymru adopting the slogan of a triumphant fascist.

“However, it is sadly not surprising. The chaotic scatter-gun spamming and eccentric messaging across their social media comms over the last 12 months has quickly undone the previous year’s hardwork on brand recovery. It is sad to see.”

In an online post, Plaid Cymru Mayor of Blackwood Rhys Mills said: “A reminder that nothing says a progressive bright future like pinning our hopes on a slogan that sounds like it was scrawled on the back of a bus.”

‘Dark day’

Wednesday was branded a “dark day” for women and minority groups by several Welsh political figures because of Trump’s vocal opposition to abortion rights and comments aimed at immigrants, Black and trans people.

Former Labour MP Beth Winter – who previously appeared as a guest speaker at a Yes Cymru rally – said the American election result was a “lesson to us all” and called for unity to oppose Trump’s “racism and misogynistic rhetoric”.

Plaid Cymru MS Heledd Fychan said there were “lessons for us here in Wales” about listening to those that feel marginalised.

At the other end of the political spectrum, Tory MS James Evans hailed Trump for his “unwavering commitment to supporting working people”.

‘Poor optics’

Online commentators say that by altering a slogan popular with Trump supporters Yes Cymru had become removed from reality.

One social media user said: “It’s incredibly poor optics to alter a Trump slogan.”

Another posted: “Don’t think aligning with the Trump slogan is a good idea. Bin future posts with ‘Make Wales Great Again’ please and diolch.”

Yes Cymru describes itself as a non party-political campaign for an independent Wales.

It was first formed in 2014 and officially launched on 20 February 2016 in Cardiff. In 2022 it became a private company limited by guarantee without share capital.

Last year the organisation became embroiled in a string of scandals following the departure of its Chief Executive and disagreements behind the scenes amongst board members over how membership money is spent.

A recent “independent” investigation which completely exonerated the organisation did not appear have the desired effect after questions were raised about the probe’s steering panel and evidence that was disregarded.

Yes Cymru was invited to comment but did not respond.


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Karl
Karl
26 days ago

Given the phrase is linked to sexism and racism,own goal to go near it.

TheOtherJones
TheOtherJones
26 days ago

Esgob annwyl…. What an own goal.

Jeff
Jeff
26 days ago

Twitter is basically musks suck up to trump, he used it to help trump into power. Time to bail if you use it. Drop your amazon account as well.

Got a tesla? Thinking of buying one?

Last edited 26 days ago by Jeff
Y Cymro
Y Cymro
26 days ago

As a supporter of YesCymru it’s not something I would have personally Tweeted seeing it’s associated with Alt-right, MAGA & Trump. They made a error of judgement. Rectified it. End of story. Time to move on. Live & learn.

Barry Perkins
Barry Perkins
26 days ago
Reply to  Y Cymro

Indeed. Any wrongdoing, however deliberate and inflammatory should be covered up, and everyone should move on. Standard practice.

Nothing to see here.

FrankC
FrankC
26 days ago

As a former member of YesCymru, it really pains me to see them putting out rubbish like this. I suppose after the various culls and infighting in recent years we are getting down to the dregs.

Alun
Alun
26 days ago

Harmless fun

Brychan
Brychan
26 days ago

One thing is evident is that such slogans find traction in the working class, the majority of voters. Whether it’s Take Back Control in the over Brexit or Make America Great Again in the US. Leaves the metropolitan elite bereft. No need to copy those. We can have our own, like Ein Gwlad, Ein Dyfodol. Need something to make those comfy Brits in the Bae choke on their skinny lattes.

John Ellis
John Ellis
26 days ago

Yes Cymru deleted its variation of the catchphrase on X less than a day after it was first posted amid outrage from social media users.’

Quite innocently meant, I’d guess – just not adequately considered and in consequence rather inept.

Not entirely untypical of ‘Yes Cymru’, from my admittedly rather limited experience of them.

Gareth
Gareth
26 days ago

I dont know what to make of this, as for the last few days everytime I have seen Trump on British TV he has appeared with the slogan written large ” Trump will fix it”, him being a convicted sex offender, and the slogan linked to the biggest ever sex criminal in British history, but not a word mentioned, yes Cymru say make Wales great again, and uproar. Double standards.

Vale Cymru
Vale Cymru
25 days ago

Yes Cymru, nieve politics!

hdavies15
hdavies15
25 days ago
Reply to  Vale Cymru

Vale Cymru, p*ss poor spelling !

Vale Cymru
Vale Cymru
25 days ago
Reply to  hdavies15

Better than p*ss poor tweets!

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