The '4D Chess' meme gained massive traction during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign as a way to describe Donald Trump's unconventional and often unpredictable political maneuvers. The term suggests that while his actions might seem impulsive or illogical to the average observer, they are actually part of a profound, multi-layered strategy that his opponents cannot fathom. The meme is used both by supporters to praise his political genius and by critics as a sarcastic rebuttal to any attempt at rationalizing controversial decisions. It has since expanded beyond politics to describe anyone who claims to be executing a plan far more complex than it appears on the surface.