The U.S. Government October 18th, 2021 Bankruptcy meme stems from real-world financial warnings issued by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen regarding the United States reaching its debt limit. Internet subcultures, particularly those within the Trollface Incident and schizoposting communities, transformed these serious economic concerns into a cryptic, pseudo-apocalyptic event. Often depicted with eerie music, distorted imagery, or the Trollface character, the meme satirizes the absurdity of national debt and the perceived fragility of the global financial system. It is commonly used to mock bureaucratic panic or to create creepypasta-style lore around specific calendar dates, turning a fiscal deadline into a legendary internet moment.