In case it has yet to be brought to the attention of Meal, Ready-to-Eat aficionados, one of the MRE’s newer bag designs of figures flanking a rifle stack features one individual who bears an uncanny resemblance to the military’s commander in chief.
This is not a stretch of the imagination, not some discovery of the face of the Virgin Mary in a bowl of gravy-smothered mashed potatoes or a subliminal message burned into the flaky dough of a quesadilla.
That is a presidential silhouette if there ever was one, and an unavoidable visual connection that now can never be unseen.
While preparing to wolf down the succulent brown bag goodness adored by generations of constipated service members, a starving D.J. Kremer, an Army warrant officer and barbecue devotee, decided to send his BBQ-loving friends a photo of the blasphemous meal.
“Due to logistical issues, we ended up going three days without food or water," Kremer said. "On about day four, we finally got MREs and I pulled this [MRE] out. I’m a member of BBQ Facebook page, and thought they would get a kick out of me eating brisket out of a bag instead of grilling my own. ... The comments grew. Next thing I know, I’m getting calls from all over saying they saw my post on such and such page. Crazy how quick things spread!”
Reddit user Ternarian then shared the post — captioned with the revelation, “MRE package design looks like Trump and Kanye sitting around a campfire” — on the popular r/AirForce subreddit.
Does it ever.
The striking comparison is helped by the notion that the two have developed a unique friendship.
Kanye West has become an outspoken supporter of the president, and met with Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in October while wearing the recognizable “Make America Great Again” hat.
“It was something about when I put this hat on, it made me feel like Superman,” West said, sitting across from Trump in the Oval Office. “You made a Superman. That was my – that’s my favorite superhero. And you made a Superman cape.”
The two discussed an array of topics during the meeting, including the office’s energy force.
“Let me ask you this question,” Trump said to West. “You’re in the Oval Office. How does it feel to be in the Oval Office?”
“Oh, it is good energy in this,” West responded.
“Isn’t it good energy?” Trump inquired.
“It’s good energy," West reaffirmed.
Somehow, that good energy has contributed to a blossoming friendship that managed to find its way onto an MRE sleeve.
Jon Simkins is the executive editor for Military Times and Defense News, and a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War.
