The Scumbag America meme is a derivative of the legendary Scumbag Steve meme, which features a portrait of a young man in a sideways brown plaid hat. By superimposing this infamous hat onto a map of the United States or the American flag, the meme evolves into a vehicle for political and social commentary. It is primarily used to highlight perceived contradictions in U.S. foreign policy, internal social issues, or the ironic contrast between national ideals and actual practice. Since its rise in the early 2010s on platforms like Reddit and Quickmeme, the template has served as a staple for internet users wishing to voice frustration with global events or systemic hypocrisy through a lens of biting humor.