Glen Powell has inspired more memes than many Hollywood actors, but his latest and perhaps biggest is called "John Politics," the nickname for his embalmed, diplomatic alter ego.
In the image, Powell is wearing a suit with an American flag pin, and he's smizing for the camera with a shiny glaze over his hair and face, embellishing his cheekbones and forehead. It was taken by photographer Bobby Doherty for a GQ photo shoot in September 2025, but it has since taken on a life of its own online.
Powell tells USA TODAY that people have told him about the meme, but he's not well-versed in its online life. "I actually don't know what it is. I just know that I'm sweaty and greasy," he says. "I'm probably not the one to understand it, but I'm honored,
I think."
Popular captions for the meme joke about male authority figures like dads and uncles ordering the viewer to do ludicrous tasks. Powell's (or Politics') ridiculous yet authoritative stare represents the firm subject. "How gym teachers look at you when you don't want to run 12 miles at 8:24 am sharp," reads one popular TikTok post with over 386,000 likes.
Others are dressing up as John Politics in convincing cosplay, or cracking jokes about Powell as an alternate reality diplomat. "He looks like a fake political candidate in GTA," one viral tweet from September reads.
He looks like a fake political candidate in GTA https://t.co/S62Wh1t3lN
β CrimsonKoning π΄ (@Konijn370576) September 9, 2025
One TikToker said that "GQ created John Politics" and "the internet elected him." But Powell says he hasn't considered a political run in real life.
"I just love movies because it brings people together, and that's where I want to put my time, that's where I want to put my energy β¦ You're not going to see me in that arena," he says.
@kalza.cc What the fuh|| John politics edit|| Glen Powellβ¦|| jugg style|| #fyp #xyzabc #jugg #glenpowell #edit
β¬ original sound - πΆππππ
John Politics has continued to evolve and mutate. In some memes in recent weeks, the photo has become so over-edited that the character's glistening face is slicker, darker and even more uncanny. He looks toy-like and oily in one viral tweet from Aug. 29.
Even the captions are becoming otherworldly, posing impossible situations. "How bro looks at you after asking if you wanna run 25 km at 5:34 a.m. when it's -11Β°C outside," reads one viral post on TikTok.
DLSS5 looks so good pic.twitter.com/0YAZm1LJNf
β Blight Yoakam (@BlightYoakam) August 29, 2026
Internet culture researcher and commentator Aidan Walker shared a notable video on the John Politics meme, saying it represents "how much prestige the presidency has lost over the past few years."
He notes that the rest of the photo shoot also shows Powell as caricatures of masculine figures, like a boxer and a bodybuilder, and that they "seem to challenge the viewer, saying that when you encounter the cowboy, or the fitness influencer, or the politician in American media, you should recognize that those versions are just as artificial as this obviously artificial version we're showing you here."
@aidanetcetera why john politics looks like a demented ken doll. and why i would maybe vote for him #memes
β¬ original sound - Aidan Walker
Powell's title character in the Hulu comedy series "Chad Powers" is somewhat of a quarterback caricature. He canonically wears a wig and prosthetics to turn himself into a younger player, so that he can take another swing at SEC glory. He fits right into the other parody portraits in the GQ piece with his long blonde hair and buff build.
But even though he might look the part, his initial quarterback skills were sparse. Luckily, he got to learn from famed NFL brothers Peyton and Eli Manning β the latter inspired the Chad Powers character.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Peyton Manning said, βYou watch [a pro QB] take a snap β¦ his fingers are pointing up, and his thumbs are down, angled toward the center, ready to catch. With Glen, his palms were up, like heβs holding a tray, about to serve a platter. Eli and I were like, βWeβve got to get that fixed.'"
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Glen Powell finally reacts to his famous John Politics meme
