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---
title: Kellyanne Conway Holding Up Signs Becomes Meme
description: Kellyanne Conway held up signs to address reports Donald&#x27;s Trump campaign sought assistance from Russia, and it became an instant viral meme
canonical: https://time.com/4856358/kellyanne-conway-collusion-memes/
author: Ashley Hoffman
article:opinion: false
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2017-07-13T13:23:27.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:45:21.428Z
og:title: Kellyanne Conway&#x27;s Collusion Signs Are the Hottest New Meme
og:description: The internet is absolutely losing its mind
og:url: https://time.com/4856358/kellyanne-conway-collusion-memes/
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og:image:alt: ConclusionIllusion
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twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: Kellyanne Conway&#x27;s Collusion Signs Are the Hottest New Meme
twitter:description: The internet is absolutely losing its mind
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte664ed27eaf3cede/6988d57f8fd2ee513c357f50/conclusionillusion.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# Kellyanne Conway Going Full _Sesame Street_ About Collusion and Delusion Is Summer's Hottest Viral Meme

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by 

[Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/)


## Ashley Hoffman


Jul 13, 2017 1:23 PM UTC

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte664ed27eaf3cede/6988d57f8fd2ee513c357f50/conclusionillusion.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

by 

[Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/)


## Ashley Hoffman


Jul 13, 2017 1:23 PM UTC

It’s a fact universally acknowledged that the quickest way to flood the internet with memes is to be a politician holding up a [blank canvas](http://time.com/4756946/best-memes-2017-so-far/).

[Kellyanne Conway](http://ti.me/2mHtUJ4) did just that during a Wednesday night interview on Fox’s _Hannity_ with host Sean Hannity. President Donald Trump’s senior adviser came prepared with printed signs that she used as props to get her point across to the folks at home, following reports of purported Russian attempts to help Donald Trump win the election.

“In case you run out of time, this is how I see it so far,” Conway said playfully, holding up two simple rhyming flash cards. “This is to help all the people at home. What’s the conclusion? Collusion? No. We don’t have that yet. I see illusion and delusion.” As she walked viewers through her talking points, Conway crossed out the word “collusion.”

“So just so we’re clear, everyone: four words. Collusion, no. Illusion, delusion, yes,” she said. “I just thought we’d have some fun with words. A Sesame \[Street\] Grover’s word of the day, perhaps.”

It was an immediate viral hit.

The lyrics from the musical _Rent_ “heuvos rancheros and Maya Angelou” were not what she wanted to communicate, and neither were endless other ideas that quickly dominated the internet.

Many made the connection to _Love Actually’s_ enduringly iconic love profession scene, while critics had a field day with satirical takes.

See a sampling below.


> [](https://twitter.com/anamariecox/status/885332062047285248)

> [](https://twitter.com/ditzkoff/status/885332674382102529)

> [](https://twitter.com/ditzkoff/status/885336536207810561)


> [](https://twitter.com/ivadixit/status/885335655957635074)

> [](https://twitter.com/MarcSnetiker/status/885335300666384385)

Rent lyrics made an appearance.

> [](https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/885333748644012034)


Another ran with the throwback theme

> [](https://twitter.com/Michael%5FCalia/status/885336579992150016)

The Office was in the mix.

> [](https://twitter.com/taylortrudon/status/885341522903785473)

Another poked fun at the scaling back of press briefings.

> [](https://twitter.com/Quints133/status/885376429172686848)


Someone replaced the signs.

> [](https://twitter.com/ojedasbodega/status/885350955734016001)

Some were even more pointed.

> [](https://twitter.com/mrgregshields/status/885338459698860032)

A certain buzzword was necessary.

> [](https://twitter.com/media%5Fmarshall/status/885337124568014848)


_Karate Kid_ got a tribute.

> [](https://twitter.com/V%5FDub1976/status/885335653076094977)

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