The Troubled Macron meme features photographs of French President Emmanuel Macron looking visibly exhausted, stressed, or contemplative at the Élysée Palace. Captured primarily by his official photographer, Soazig de la Moissonnière, during high-stakes diplomatic periods like the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the images quickly transcended politics to become a universal symbol of being overwhelmed. Internet users use these raw, candid shots to represent the crushing weight of daily responsibilities, post-work fatigue, or the feeling of reading a particularly stressful email. Its popularity stems from the relatability of a powerful world leader looking just as defeated by life as the average person.