Missouri mayor Robbie Guard won the majority of votes in the Cape Girardeau mayoral race, but a controversial photo of him has sparked ridicule online. The image, which shows Guard striking a double-biceps pose while wearing a “Grab ’Em” tank top featuring Trump and a cat, has been widely circulated on social media. The shirt appears to reference Trump’s infamous 2016 viral recording, and many critics have called Guard’s decision to wear it inappropriate and in poor taste.
Although Robbie Guard has not publicly stated whether he is an enthusiastic Trump supporter, hundreds of users on Facebook and Reddit have circulated this photo as a source of criticism. In an interview with KFVS12, Cape Girardeau’s newly elected mayor pledged to address crime, homelessness, and concerns surrounding the fire department. While many residents congratulated him on his victory, others continued to repost the image alongside sarcastic comments about his appearance.
Social Media Reactions
“This prime specimen of a man may replace Trump,” one Redditor remarked on r/trashy, while another described Guard as “fat white trash.” A third broadened the criticism to the state as a whole, writing, “I feel like you all are sleeping on what a garbage state this is.” A fourth user added that the state has consistently voted Republican.
Negative comments on Facebook were no kinder. One user wrote, “He’s going to get eaten alive and I’ll be right here watching—popcorn in hand.” Another commenter reshared the viral photo, asking, “Is this your mayor…?” However, many others offered congratulations and expressed optimism about the positive changes Robbie Guard could bring to the community.
Guard’s criticisms about his appearance and alleged support of Trump are a stark contrast from New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani. The Uganda-born American politician has received plenty of support and praise. Though, he has also been criticized, mostly for his decisions rather than his appearance, unlike Guard.
The online criticism of Robbie Guard demonstrates that digital appearance matters regardless of context, and that skin color has become an especially contentious issue in the current political climate.
