Missouri lawmaker posts video of kids chanting ‘Let’s go Brandon’ at wrestling event

A Missouri Republican state lawmaker posted video on social media that he said showed a group of young kids repeatedly chanting “Let’s go Brandon” in unison at a youth wrestling tournament in Independence last week.

The video was posted on Twitter by state Rep. Aaron McMullen, an Independence Republican. McMullen said on Twitter that the video was filmed at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, which hosted the Adidas Wrestling Nationals, a K-12 tournament.

In the video, the group of kids are seen smacking a wrestling mat between the chants. The phrase has been adopted as a rallying cry in conservative and right-wing circles to mean “F--- Joe Biden.”

“What’s happening in Independence, MO? Don’t ever let them tell you we are losing the youth. Let’s Go Brandon!” McMullen posted on Twitter along with the video.

McMullen initially agreed to an interview Monday but did not return several follow-up calls and texts from The Star. The event manager for the wrestling tournament also did not respond to an email and call seeking comment.

Missouri Democrats quickly criticized the video on social media, saying it’s an example of kids being indoctrinated for political fodder. They have also pointed out the vulgar meaning of the phrase.

“There are so many people willing to throw teachers under the bus and defund schools and making up stories about teachers indoctrinating children or the left indoctrinating children,” Jessica Piper, executive director of Blue Missouri, a group that fundraises for Democrats, told The Star. “Leading kids on a chant of ‘let’s go Brandon’ is the height of indoctrination and they do it out there and they’re willing to film it and to put it online.”

The release of the video comes amid culture war debates led by Missouri Republican lawmakers over book content and parental involvement in schools. Republicans have also pushed legislation that would ban kids from viewing drag shows.

While it’s unclear when exactly the video was taken, the wrestling tournament was held from April 6 to April 8. According to its website, proceeds from the event went to R.E.A.C.H.E.S, a nonprofit athletics group.

The website says the tournament is “where Kindergarten through 12th graders can compete against their own grade level, in their weight class, to stake their claim as the best in the country in folkstyle wrestling.”