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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Self-Proclaimed President Zé” is a common card of the Brazilian Memes pack, number 258 of the collection, and the 1st best-known meme of its 300 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “Self-Proclaimed President Zé” meme mean?
The meme uses the absurdity of an actor proclaiming himself president to make a direct political point, mocking the legitimacy of whoever actually holds power. It gets used both to joke about contested power situations and to voice political opposition with humor.
Where does the “Self-Proclaimed President Zé” meme come from?
On January 23, 2019, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó declared himself interim president of Venezuela, and Jair Bolsonaro's government recognized the move. In protest against that decision, which he saw as illegitimate, actor José de Abreu posted on Twitter on February 25, 2019: "I just proclaimed myself President of Brazil. Who supports me?" The joke caught on immediately, spreading the same day across Twitter and Facebook, with Abreu's name among the most talked-about topics. Former presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff publicly backed the ironic gesture, while Bolsonaro threatened legal action and actor Alexandre Frota filed a complaint against Abreu. Abreu even planned a symbolic "self-impeachment" ceremony for April 1.
- 2019On January 23, Juan Guaidó declares himself interim president of Venezuela, recognized by Bolsonaro.
- 2019On February 25, José de Abreu proclaims himself president of Brazil on Twitter and the meme goes viral the same day.
How to use the “Self-Proclaimed President Zé” meme
- I proclaimed myself president of the couch just for getting there first, very José de Abreu of me.
- He proclaimed himself head of the group chat, straight out of the José de Abreu playbook.
- Anyone can proclaim themselves anything these days, reminds me of the José de Abreu meme.
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The “Self-Proclaimed President Zé” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 258 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Common |
| Collection | Brazilian Memes pack |
| Fame | 50/100 · #1 of 300 |
| Recycle value | 5 MemeCoins (15 in Shiny) |
How to get the “Self-Proclaimed President Zé” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Self-Proclaimed President Zé comes out of the Brazilian Memes pack as a common card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 5 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “Self-Proclaimed President Zé”
More cards of the Brazilian Memes pack
Frequently asked questions
Why did José de Abreu proclaim himself president?
As a protest against Bolsonaro's recognition of Guaidó, which he saw as illegitimate.
Did José de Abreu actually become president?
No, it was a political protest joke that went viral online.
Who supported José de Abreu in the meme?
Former presidents Lula and Dilma Rousseff publicly expressed support.
How do I get the Self-Proclaimed President Zé meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Self-Proclaimed President Zé” is a common card of the Brazilian Memes pack. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the Self-Proclaimed President Zé card?
It is a Common card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: Autoproclamação de José de Abreu como presidente do Brasil – Wikipédia · checked on November 6, 2026.
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Open your free pack: 5 meme cards, no account needed.