Bernie Sanders won the inauguration with coat and mittens meme

There was a whole lot to take in at the inauguration of President Joe Biden.

The socially distanced arrangement of dignitaries. The swearing in of Kamala Harris: the first woman, Black and South Asian vice president. The potent words of youngest-ever inaugural poet Amanda Gorman. Lady Gaga’s soaring national anthem (and oversized dove brooch, which just about soared off her coat).

But it was Bernie Sanders, sitting, arms crossed, in a folding chair, who emerged as an enduring image and meme of the 2021 presidential inauguration.

The senator from Vermont, huddled and perched cross-legged in his all-purpose winter jacket and cozy mittens, seemed to have materialized just so he could be cut out and placed in any background. The image was the perfect canvas on which to project our own thoughts, insecurities, identities and moods.

Whatever Bernie signified in this moment, people were digging it. For some, it was the essence of Sanders himself that came through crystal clear in his hunched pose and choice of winter attire.

“I will never forget Bernie honoring our middle class New England tradition of having exactly one heavy winter coat, worn to both formal and casual events,” tweeted comedian and podcast host Julia Claire.

The Sanders appreciation ran strong, mostly because the senator, 79, couldn’t possibly have seemed more like himself.

“This is literally the happiest Bernie has ever been,” tweeted the account for “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”

“Replace every (C)onfederate monument with this statue of (B)ernie,” suggested Sal Gentile, a writer and producer for the late night show.

About those mittens, though: the chunky, warm-looking hand protectors were apparently made by Vermont teacher Jen Ellis out of wool sweaters and plastic bottles.

Talk about a Green New Deal!

Snazzy gloves or no, Bernie was quite the mood.

“I wanna be Michelle Obama but I know I’m a Bernie Sanders,” tweeted @keshiaerica, sharing the image of Sanders conserving his body heat in the folding chair.

“Bernie is America’s Grandpa,” said attorney Sarah Gad.

Astute meme observers even noted that Sanders appeared to be wearing the same winter jacket as in the “I am once again asking” meme featuring the senator.

For @uglyhawt, it was a prime opportunity to show the versatility of Sanders’ vibe … and jacket!

“Bernie stopped by the inauguration on his way home from the farmers market,” she tweeted, editing Sanders, chair and all, into a scene with a free samples table.

Sanders and his formidable mittens also joined Jay and Silent Bob outside the Quick Stop in Leonardo in Kevin Smith’s “Clerks“ — much to the director’s delight.

Bernie was suddenly in all the places, including the top of former Vice President Mike Pence’s head, like that fly during the debate.

The senator became the new Samantha in the upcoming “Sex and the City” revival and a friend of Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri sitting outside Satriale’s in “The Sopranos.”

(It’s not Congress, it’s HBO.)

The Jersey pop culture references remained plentiful as Sanders wedged in on the couch between Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn).

No word if he was down for the White Castle mission.

Sanders also used his magic mittens and folding chair to teleport to some of the most famous records in music history.

Reporter Tatiana Tenreyro started an Instagram account called @theberniealbums.

Here’s a seated Sanders on the cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours.”

Just give him a longboard and a bottle of Ocean Spray.

Or maybe you’d prefer Baby Yoda Bernie. You know, from “The Mandalorian.”

He’s also available as, say, Brat Packer Ally Sheedy from “The Breakfast Club.” And as Bran Stark from “Game of Thrones.”

Sanders even joined the E Street Band’s Clarence Clemons as a bonus member of the Three Most Important People from “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.”

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter.

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.