The 'Jedi Mind Meld' became a viral phenomenon in March 2013 after President Barack Obama accidentally combined the Star Wars 'Jedi Mind Trick' with the Star Trek 'Vulcan Mind Meld' during a press conference about a budget standoff. The term instantly resonated with internet culture as a classic 'nerd sniped' moment, perfectly capturing the visceral frustration geeks feel when iconic sci-fi franchises are conflated. It is primarily used to poke fun at people who feign knowledge of geek lore but stumble over the details, or to describe any situation where two incompatible ideas are awkwardly forced together. Today, it remains a staple template for highlighting cross-fandom confusion and the humorous side of high-profile verbal slips.