The 'Beto O'Rourke Speaking Spanish' meme stems from the first 2020 Democratic primary debate in June 2019, when Beto unexpectedly began answering a question about the economy in Spanish. The moment went viral not just for the sudden language shift, but for the bewildered reaction of fellow candidate Cory Booker, whose wide-eyed expression became a meme in its own right. It is typically used to mock people who try too hard to be relatable, individuals showing off basic bilingual skills, or situations where someone makes a dramatic, unnecessary transition to another language to impress an audience.