Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was mocked online after she mistakenly shared an anti-war message by tweeting the lyrics of "99 Red Balloons" in a tweet about the Chinese spy balloon that set off a diplomatic crisis over the last week.
Greene tweeted "Now there are 3," referencing reports from news outlets which confirmed Chinese balloons crossed over the United States at least four times in recent years.
Her tweet included the lyrics to the song, which is known for its anti-war message.
Released at the height of the Cold War, "99 Red Balloons"—originally "99 Luftballons" by the German pop band Nena—is about two children who innocently release a batch of balloons into the air only for them to create a panic among international governments and trigger a nuclear war.
You can see Greene's tweet below.
\u201cNow there are 3.\n\n\u201c99 red balloons\nFloating in the summer sky\nPanic bells, it's red alert\nThere's something here from somewhere else\nThe war machine springs to life\nOpens up one eager eye\nFocusing it on the sky\nThe 99 red balloons go by..\u201d\n\nhttps://t.co/MY1sWuck7p\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1675482275
Greene's failure to understand the song's lyrics exposed her to significant mockery online.
Do you need someone to translate this song for you? I realize even the English version might be too difficult
— Rebecca Schuman (@pankisseskafka) February 4, 2023
That song is LITERALY about not starting a nuclear war over balloons
— Lord Pelagius (@LordPelagius) February 4, 2023
Oh honey. Google can be your friend, please use it. Example: “What is the meaning of 99 Red Balloons?”
Now you try!
— TxCheesehead (@xcheesehead) February 4, 2023
This doesn't mean what you think it does. I was in Germany when it came out.
Take your trump patriot qanonsense somewhere else.
Prediction: kevin mccarthy won't say a word about this.
— 🇺🇸Misty Gerri Santoro 🇺🇦 (@Prince3eb) February 4, 2023
Thank you for the reminder of why you belong nowhere near any serious committee in congress.
— LiraLoudmouth (@LiraLoudmouth) February 4, 2023
Quoting a song and not knowing what it's about. That's right on brand for you, isn't it?
— TheHandsomeRandall (@HandsomeRandall) February 4, 2023
Do you understand the meaning of this song?
— Domestic Supply Of Lunacy (@UnionizeTesla) February 4, 2023
Words really can't convey how profoundly stupid you are. But you insist on proving it again and again and again.
— The Filmatelist (@Filmatelist) February 4, 2023
The Chinese government said it "regrets" its weather surveillance "airship" accidentally flew over United States' airspace after the Pentagon said a purported spy balloon flew over Montana.
Greene was among the more prominent Republicans who called for it to immediately be shot down, but the Pentagon advised President Joe Biden to wait until there would be no danger to people or property.
@PreetBharara/X
@RepBrendanBoyle/X
@twesq/Bluesky
@christopherharris/Bluesky
@evangelinewarren/X
@FrankC164/X
AMC