BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • Notifications
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • More menu
More menu
Search BBC
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
Close menu
BBC News
Menu
  • Home
  • InDepth
  • Israel-Gaza war
  • War in Ukraine
  • Climate
  • UK
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Culture
More
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Family & Education
  • In Pictures
  • Newsbeat
  • BBC Verify
  • Disability
  • BBC Trending

Arabs praise 'Abu Ivanka' aka Trump for Syria strike and #AmericaIsOverParty fears army draft

  • Published
    7 April 2017
Share page
About sharing
Screengrab of Facebook post by Basel KarzounImage source, Facebook/Basel Karzoun
Image caption,

In this meme, the US president is shown wearing a tarboosh (similar to a fez) with the words: "We love you"

By Lamia Estatie
BBC News

Arabs online thank Abu Ivanka, or President Donald Trump - for the US strike against Syria - and Americans fearful of conscription into a huge war tweet #AmericaIsOverParty.

Abu Ivanka al-Amreeki

Arabs on social media are showering US President Donald Trump with thanks and praise after he ordered the first direct US military action against Syrian government forces.

The US conducted the strikes on a Syrian air base in the early hours of Friday following a suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town.

Shortly after, some Arab social media users started referring to the president as Abu Ivanka, external - Father of Ivanka, as a sign of respect and endearment.

Others referred to him as Abu Ivanka al-Amreeki, external - Father of Ivanka the American, complete with a religious beard.

Media caption,

WATCH: What is Trump's plan in Syria?

But some were critical of the president's move and the motives behind it.

One user gave Trump an Arab makeover, with a meme of him wearing a traditional tarboosh hat (similar to a fez), with the words: "We love you."

He was also described as a "man of his words", external, with one user telling, external him: "You did in a few months what Obama couldn't do in 8 years."

Screen grab of tweet by @HazmKSA1Image source, Facebook/@HazmKSA1

"Fifteen warplanes that would have killed thousands of Syrians" were destroyed, one user said, changing, external his Facebook profile picture to an amalgam of Trump's face, the American flag, and the Arabic words: "We love you."

A media activist in Idlib wanted to see more action, calling, external on the US president to keep going and "hit Assad down".

And while some said they "never thought", external this day would come, they thanked, external Trump for doing "what no cowardly Arab ruler could do".

"Hope is slowly returning to our hearts. Thank you, Trump," one Syrian posted, external.

"For the first time in six years, the Assad regime has been held accountable for its crimes," a London-based Syrian said, external.

Houston-based Syrian artist Moustafa Jacoub shared, external an image of love for the US president.

Screen grab of Facebook post by Moustafa JacoubImage source, Facebook/Moustafa Jacoub

Syrian journalist Rami Jarrah had a more measured response, external: "Syrians are not cheering a pathetic human being like Trump, they're just happy Assad has less means to kill them with."

"Trump has quickly discovered the magic principle of US politics: when things go wrong at home, start a military venture in the Middle East," London-based blogger Karl Sharro, who is half-Lebanese and half-Iraqi, commented, external.

Another person added, external: "So now you love Trump? Where are those who said when he came into power that he hates Arabs and Muslims?"

Also, a pro-Syrian government Twitter user who was critical of the US move tweeted, external: "Is Trump going to bomb his own airfields for all the Iraqi and Syrian children they have killed in Raqqa and Mosul?"

line

#AmericaIsOverParty

Screen grab of tweet by @IslaAltamiranoImage source, Twitter/@IslaAltamirano

Some North Americans online think their country is done for after US President Donald Trump ordered strikes against Syrian government forces.

Freaking out over the possibility of being conscripted into a huge war, they're sharing images and videos with tongue-in-cheek remarks, using the Twitter hashtag #AmericaIsOverParty.

Variations of the hashtag, including #TrumpIsOverParty and #HillaryIsOverParty, have been used in the past.

"All Bernie wanted to do is legalise marijuana and help college students, instead we get a carrot as president and WWIII," one Twitter user said, external.

"Immigration: Hello, how can we help you. Me: Yes I am an illegal immigrant, I'd like to request a deportation asap," a Twitter user joked, external.

Screen grab of tweet by @ethansbasicImage source, Twitter/@ethansbasic

Others said they would be fleeing to Canada, external and Mexico, external.

Another shared, external what her reaction would be if the army were to ask her if she would be willing to die for her country: "No."

The same, external response was heard elsewhere: "When the US Army officials knock on your door and ask if you're over 18."

One tweeted, external a gif of a boy falling to the ground, captioned: "Me faking my injury to not get drafted."

Though one user found another solution, saying, external she would enter names of people she didn't like into the draft.

"When you only joined the military for free college and now you actually going to war," another continued, external, sharing a crying gif.

Screen grab of tweet by @k3vxn_Image source, Twitter/@k3vxn_

But while laughing at the jokes, many said, external they were also "scared because the war could actually happen".

The hashtag was also used to take a jab at the president and his supporters.

"The people who voted for Trump better get drafted first," one user said, external. Another continued, external: "According to Trump's Census I don't exist... so therefore, I can't be drafted for this war... "

Some capitalised on the Kendall Jenner Pepsi advert in their jokes, which was pulled after accusations it trivialised street protests in the US.

One shared, external a gif of a happy entrance to a TV show: "Kendall walking into Syria with a can of Pepsi". While another showed, external an image of Kendall's mother brandishing a gun, captioned: "Kendall, we're taking a trip to Syria, bring your Pepsi."

By the UGC and Social News Team

Top stories

  • Live. 

    Israel says it has airdropped aid into Gaza in move criticised by aid agencies

    • 1084 viewing1.1k viewing
  • Israel intercepts Gaza-bound activist boat carrying food aid

    • Published
      2 hours ago
  • Greece battles wildfires, evacuating residents near Athens

    • Published
      2 hours ago

More to explore

  • Nervous about the Euro 2025 final? Here's your survival guide for the big match

    A young woman with shoulder length brown hair and a fringe bites her nails in Boxpark Croydon during the semi-final between England and Italy
  • 'Gaza suffering must stop, PM to tell Trump', and Euros 'Pride and Prejudice'

    The Times front page shows the headline "Gaza's suffering must stop, PM to tell Trump" as well as photographs of the British Lionesses, who are preparing for a match, and the Lions, who just beat Australia. The Observer's front page is devoted to a picture of Lionesses player Michelle Agyemang. She wears a black jacket with purple insignia, and listens to headphones. A bag is slung over one shoulder.
  • Gaza aid site offered a 'women only' day. It didn't stop the killing

    Mary Sheikh al-Eid's family is comforted after her body is brought to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza (24 July 2025)
  • Lucky shirts and match day rituals: England fans dream of Euros glory

    A woman wearing glasses is drawing a red and white England flag on her right cheek in face paint while looking at her reflection on her mobile phone.
  • The make-believe festival boasting Glastonbury headliners planned by a convicted fraudster

    James Kenny is standing sideways in front of a blue and purple promotional screen at the National Television Awards, with the NTA branding behind him. He is a white man with short grey, thinning hair who is smiling and holding his hand up to his chin in a comedic way. He is wearing a blue jumper, square glasses and a NTA lanyard.
  • The last custodian: A Kashmiri artisan's battle to save a musical legacy

    A man wearing a black shirt and a white skull cap with black glasses looks into the camera. There are posters and wooden cutouts hanging on a wall in the background
  • How reality TV changed the way we think - for the better

    A treated image showing an old TV screen with a close up eye
  • Why we need to talk about periods, breasts and injuries in women's sport

    Chloe running towards the camera with her arms to her sides, wearing white shorts and white sports bra with her England shirt twirled up in her right hand, screaming with joy, blonde hair flying
  • Sleep, exercise, hydrate - do we really need to stick to recommended daily doses?

    A woman wearing black leggings and pink athletic shoes, standing on a set of black steps. One foot is placed on a higher step while the other remains on a lower one, suggesting an exercise or stretching.
loading elsewhere stories

Most read

  1. 1

    Does this look like a real woman? AI Vogue model raises concerns about beauty standards

  2. 2

    'Gaza suffering must stop, PM to tell Trump', and Euros 'Pride and Prejudice'

  3. 3

    Pubs and venues to be protected from noise complaints

  4. 4

    Greece battles wildfires, evacuating residents near Athens

  5. 5

    The would-be saint murdered 'mafia-style' for refusing bribes

  6. 6

    Israel intercepts Gaza-bound activist boat carrying food aid

  7. 7

    Why I'm not paying into a pension

  8. 8

    The make-believe festival boasting Glastonbury headliners planned by a convicted fraudster

  9. 9

    Bend It Like Beckham sequel in the works, director tells BBC

  10. 10

    Ozzy Osbourne: From Prince of Darkness to reality TV's favourite dad

BBC News Services

  • On your mobile
  • On smart speakers
  • Get news alerts
  • Contact BBC News

Best of the BBC

  • New drama from writer Jimmy McGovern

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Unforgivable
  • The Bafta award-winning comedy returns

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Such Brave Girls
  • An epic road trip across Vietnam

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Top Gear
  • Amol Rajan and Billy Bragg chat politics

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Radical with Amol Rajan
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • Make an editorial complaint
  • BBC emails for you

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.