In the summer of 2016 I thought this remark humorous for several reasons. The role of irony and opportunities for parody in American public discourse have changed significantly over the intervening four years, and statements can now be made by refusing to kneel during The National Anthem™ as well as by kneeling. US disengagement from the world has increased, so there’s even less commonly shared context for The War of 1812. Continued use of „surreal“ to describe events in the US seems reassuring, as this indicates remembrance of a past real.