About
President Glen Powell or John Politics is a series of memes based on a photograph of actor Glen Powell, published by GQ in 2025, where he appears in a suit with slicked-back hair, meant to evoke images of a stereotypical American president.
Memes using the image were popularized on TikTok and Instagram Reels in early August 2026. Some memes use the phrase “good hair doesn’t matter,” followed by a compilation of images that jokingly claim that Powell’s hair, when slicked back, helps him mog other presidents.
On August 2nd, 2026, X user @arthurklover_ posted the image under a caption referring to Powell as “John Politics,” which went viral.
Origin
On September 9th, 2025, GQ published an interview with actor Glen Powell that features a photograph of him dressed in a U.S. presidential look. In the photo, he holds his hand out, wears a suit with slicked-back hair and stands in front of an American flag. The photo is purportedly meant as a satire of a typical modern male fantasies, along with the other photos in the article, which feature Powell as a vaping cowboy, a bodybuilder with oversized muscles, a spelunker, and more
The image became the subject of reactions shortly after it went online. For example, on September 9th, X user @Konijn370576 quoted a post sharing the image, writing, “He looks like a fake political candidate in GTA,” garnering over 415,000 likes and 16,000 reposts in a year.
Spread
Memes using the image of Powell as a president were further popularized in late July and early August 2026 on TikTok.
On July 30th, 2026, TikToker @pauletics0 posted a meme sharing the image under the caption, “How bro looks at you when you don’t want to rate top 5 carckable cartoon characters as 8:00 in the morning,” garnering over 1,600 views in five days.
On August 1st, TikToker @kalza.cc posted a video edit based on the image, featuring numerous edits of the photograph, garnering over 592,000 views in three days.
@kalza.cc What the fuh|| John politics edit|| Glen Powell…|| jugg style|| #fyp #xyzabc #jugg #glenpowell #edit ♬ original sound – 𝕶𝖆𝖑𝖟𝖆
On August 3rd, TikToker @zyra._edit posted a meme featuring the caption, “Oil doesn’t matter,” over several images of Glen Powell, followed by images of Powell dressed as the president, where he is significantly oily looking, garnering over 1.3 million views in a day.
@zyra.edit Official rating with @PSL App #glenpowell #meme #foryou #psl #edit blank” title=”♬ son original – 𝐙 𝐘 𝐑 𝐀” href=”https://www.tiktok.com/music/son-original-7669748848566356768?refer=embed”>♬ son original – 𝐙 𝐘 𝐑 𝐀
John Politics
On August 2nd, 2026, X user @arthurklover_ posted the photograph of Powell, writing, “i’m laughing so hard at this photo..,,… who is this and why is he so glossy,,,.. is he john politics..???” garnering over 251,000 likes and 14,000 reposts in two days.
On August 4th, Newsweek published an article about the “John Politics” post.
Various Examples
@voice_of_tad ♬ original sound – St julies
@zenncant155 True Politician. // song: monolith hardtekk || Paul E. Tician edit // ib: @Paul E. Tician #fyp #edit #politician #usa #glenpowell ♬ original sound – zenn
@zyra.edit Official rating with @PSL App #glenpowell #foryou #psl #edit #pauletician blank” title=”♬ son original – 𝐙 𝐘 𝐑 𝐀” href=”https://www.tiktok.com/music/son-original-7669604358706760480?refer=embed”>♬ son original – 𝐙 𝐘 𝐑 𝐀
@6o66_66 Sell me this pen 😹 | ib: @offlineblitz | #fyp #viral #glennpowell #pauletician #tiktok ♬ original sound – 66