Stacey Ritzen
One of the more bonkers moments from this week’s Republican National Convention absolutely filled with bonkers moments came on Monday night when former Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle addressed the largely virtual crowds. In her prerecorded, fearmongering speech, Guilfoyle—who currently serves as an advisor to President Donald Trump and girlfriend to Donald Trump Jr., who also spoke that night—went over the top, which has since inspired something called the “Guilfoyle Challenge.”
The moment that quickly caught the attention of the internet—and, well, anyone within the hearing range of several states—came at the end of her speech. Guilfoyle had become increasingly shouty throughout her six-minute address, and, as it reached its crescendo, so did Guilfoyle.
“Like my parents, you can achieve your American Dream,” Guilfoyle bellowed like an evangelical preacher. “You can be that shining example to the world. Manifest and be the change in this country that you dream, that you hope, that you believe in. Stand for an American President who is fearless, who believes in you, and who loves this country and will fight for her. President Trump is the leader who will rebuild the promise of America and ensure that every citizen can realize their American Dream.”
And then, the kicker.
“Ladies and gentlemen, leaders and fighters for freedom and liberty and the American dream, the best is yet to come,” she proclaimed, reaching her arms up into the air.
That same night, Twitter user “Deon” @DBF_NYC started the Guilfoyle Challenge meme by imitating Guilfoyle’s speech, which almost instantly went viral. It has since been viewed over 2.2. million times.
The following morning, the tweet was amplified by Mom’s Demand Action founder Shannon Watts. “I’m willing to wait until you’ve all had your coffee, but this needs to be a thing,” she tweeted, adding the hashtag #Guilfoylechallenge.
From there the Guilfoyle Challenge really took off. Other Twitter users quickly began contributing their own creative versions—sometimes frightening their confused family members and pets in doing so.
Yet, even others got even more creative with the Guilfoyle Challenge.
When Guilfoyle said “the best is yet to come,” she probably wasn’t intending it to be the memes. Oh well—as they say, too bad, so sad.