The 'Basket of Deplorables' meme originates from a speech delivered by Hillary Clinton during a 2016 presidential campaign fundraiser, where she described half of Donald Trump's supporters as a 'basket of deplorables' categorized by controversial views. While intended as a critique of the opposition's base, the phrase backfired and was quickly reclaimed by Trump supporters as a badge of honor and a symbol of solidarity. In internet culture, the meme is frequently used to mock elitism in politics or to ironically label a group of people or things that have been collectively dismissed or criticized by a public figure. It remains one of the most viral and enduring linguistic legacies of the 2016 US election cycle.