In one of its more bizarre social media posts, the White House paid tribute to Harambe, the beloved silverback gorilla whose 2016 death became an internet phenomenon. The administration’s lengthy message commemorating the anniversary of Harambe’s death left many observers wondering why the White House was weighing in on a nearly decade-old meme.

What did the White House say about Harambe?

On Wednesday evening, the Trump administration shared a lengthy post on X, formerly known as Twitter, calling Harambe a “true patriot” and an integral part of “American culture” in honor of what would have been the primate’s 27th birthday, according to KOMO News and The Guardian reported.

“Today, we remember a legend. 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 White House wrote.

Details on Harambe’s death and how he became a viral sensation

Security staff at the Cincinnati Zoo shot and killed Harambe on May 28, 2016, after a 3-year-old boy, Isaiah Dickerson, fell into the enclosure where the gorilla lived. Although Harambe did not harm the child, zoo officials said they made the “difficult but right decision” to kill him for safety reasons, per KOMO News and The Guardian.

Harambe’s death sparked nationwide outrage, with an online petition titled “Justice for Harambe” gaining millions of signatures. The beloved gorilla also became an internet sensation, with his likeness spreading across popular culture and various industries. Nearly a decade later, references to Harambe remain a fixture of internet culture, making the White House’s decision to issue a tribute all the more unusual.

The incident also prompted the zoo to implement new safety measures for visitors at the gorilla enclosure.

The White House on the beloved gorilla: ‘His legacy still lives on’

“Tomorrow marks 10 years since we lost him,” the White House continued. “Ten years since the moment the world stopped scrolling and collectively mourned something bigger than a meme.”

“He became a symbol of loyalty, strength, chaos, unity, and the strange beauty of the internet, bringing millions of people together for one cause: never forgetting Harambe.”

“Everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news. And somehow, a decade later, his legacy still lives on.”