



Pepe the Frog began as a meme popularised by the deeper parts of the internet and social media. During Donald Trump's presidential campaign the symbol became aligned with the alt-right, white supremacy, anti-Semitism and "troll" culture. Pepe the Frog has been designated as a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League.

In a series of photos uploaded to Reddit Winston Peters was photographed signing, and then posing with, the meme during a visit to Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

BuzzFeed News asked a representative for Peters if the politician knew Pepe was a hate symbol "likened to the swastika and other racist images".



"Yes, he does," said a spokesperson.