Photo: Shutterstock The White House surprised social media users after publishing an emotional tribute to Harambe, the gorilla whose death at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in 2016 became one of the most recognizable moments in internet culture.
The post, shared on May 27, 2026, ahead of the 10th anniversary of Harambe’s death, quickly spread across social media platforms and reignited online discussions surrounding the viral phenomenon that turned the gorilla into a lasting meme and cultural symbol.
Photo: ChicagoPhotographer / Shutterstock.com“Today, we remember a legend,” the White House post began.
“On this day in history, Harambe would have celebrated another birthday. An icon that became part of internet history, American culture, and an entire generation’s timeline.”
The post continued by reflecting on the global reaction that followed Harambe’s death nearly a decade ago.
“Tomorrow marks 10 years since we lost him. Ten years since the moment the world stopped scrolling and collectively mourned something bigger than a meme.”
The tribute described Harambe as “a symbol of loyalty, strength, chaos, unity, and the strange beauty of the internet bringing millions of people together.”
The White House also added: “Everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news. And somehow, a decade later, his legacy still lives on.”
The post concluded with the message: “Gone, but never forgotten. Rest easy to a true patriot.”
Harambe, a 17-year-old western lowland gorilla, was shot and killed on May 28, 2016, after a three-year-old child entered his enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. The incident immediately became a global news story and later evolved into one of the internet’s most enduring memes, generating countless jokes, tributes, videos, merchandise, and social media references over the past decade.
The unexpected White House tribute drew a mixture of amusement, nostalgia, and confusion online, with many users expressing disbelief that an official government account acknowledged one of the internet’s most iconic viral moments.