In the chaotic theater of modern politics, a viral moment can ignite from a simple, misleading image. A recent example involves Trump ally Pam Bondi and two giant, inflatable green frogs bobbing silently behind her outside a Manhattan courthouse. A clip rocketed across social media, leading millions to believe that Pam Bondi did not claim inflatable frog costumes were ‘antifa’ or “paid protestors”—a claim that is demonstrably false.
It was a hilarious, perfectly meme-able moment that captured the absurdity of the political climate. The only problem? It never actually happened. This article will break down what truly transpired and how a simple case of visual juxtaposition became a textbook example of online misinformation.
What Happened Outside the Manhattan Courthouse?
The scene was the media scrum outside the high-profile trial of former President Donald Trump. Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General and a staunch Trump supporter, was speaking to reporters. As she delivered her remarks criticizing the trial, two figures in the background stole the show: comedians Jason Selvig and Davram Stiefler, known as “The Good Liars.”
Famous for their political satire, The Good Liars often appear at press events in absurd costumes to highlight the circus-like atmosphere. On this day, their costume of choice was the now-infamous inflatable frog suit.
What Did Pam Bondi Actually Say About ‘Paid Protesters’?
If you watch the full, unedited clip of Bondi’s statement, her focus is squarely on the trial itself. While speaking, she makes a general, unsubstantiated claim, stating, “We have paid protesters that are here.”
Critically, at no point does she gesture towards, point at, or otherwise reference the inflatable frogs behind her. Her comment about “paid protesters” was a generalized talking point, one frequently used by Trump supporters to discredit demonstrators. The comment was not directed at the specific comedians in frog costumes who were in her shot.
How a TV Chyron Created the ‘Antifa Frog’ Meme
The widespread confusion arose from how the moment was framed on a television broadcast. As Bondi spoke, the news channel ran a chyron—the text banner at the bottom of the screen—that read: “PAID PROTESTERS HIRED BY THE LEFT TO INTIMIDATE JURORS.”
Social media users then captured a screenshot that perfectly aligned three elements:
1. Pam Bondi speaking.
2. The chyron referencing “PAID PROTESTERS.”
3. The giant inflatable frogs directly behind her.
This created a powerful but false narrative. To the casual viewer scrolling through their feed, it appeared as though Bondi’s words were about the frog duo. The image was too absurd not to share, and the meme was born, leaving the truth far behind. The Good Liars themselves leaned into the joke, further amplifying the false narrative on their social media channels.
Why This Fact Check Matters: A Lesson in Misinformation
While amusing, this episode serves as a critical lesson in media literacy. It demonstrates “context collapse,” where information is stripped of its original context and reinterpreted incorrectly. The news channel’s chyron was a general headline, not a direct transcript of Bondi’s comments about the scene behind her. When packaged into a viral clip, that vital nuance was lost.
In today’s hyper-partisan environment, we are often quick to believe narratives that confirm our biases. For those critical of Bondi, the idea that she would mistake comedians for a sinister political force was plausible and easily shareable.
So, while Pam Bondi has made many controversial statements, let’s be clear: she did not claim inflatable frog costumes were ‘antifa.’ The frogs, for their part, remain innocent comedians, hopping through the political landscape one ribbit at a time.
