Eric Swalwell remains the King of Cringe.
With less than two weeks left in 2025, the East Bay congressman — and candidate for California governor who has missed more votes than any active member of the House of Representatives — seems to have taken the crown for most awkward social media clip of the year.
Rep. Eric Swalwell lip-syncs to the 4 Non Blondes with a special guest joining in behind him. Eric Swalwell/TikTokPutting his own spin on the “Beez in the Trap” meme, Swalwell and teen social media influencer Knowa De Baraso posted a video that has been blasted into oblivion.
As part of the meme, Swalwell lip-syncs the opening hook to 4 Non Blondes’ classic song “What’s Up” while standing back-to-back with the 14-year-old, who then takes over halfway through the clip by lip-syncing the rap by Nicki Minaj in her song “Beez in the Trap” — minus a couple profanities that were likely removed because Swalwell’s co-star is, well, a child.
The reaction on social media was swift and damning. As of publication of this story, the post on X had more than 1,700 comments and just a little over 600 likes.
“Oh dear, that was so bad,” one commenter wrote on X, with cringe and scared to look emojis.
Another wrote, “This is so embarrassing” with a laughing and crying emoji.
On TikTok, the reviews were just as damning.
“Why would Ca vote for this person?” wrote one commenter.
Knowa De Baraso’s popularity couldn’t save Rep. Swalwell from the wrath of social media commentators. Eric Swalwell/TikTokSwalwell has a history of making embarrassing social media videos, from lifting light weights at the gym to posting another video of him bobbing in a swimming pool as he blamed the recent government shutdown on Republicans.
The attempt to capitalize on the popularity of Knowa De Baraso — who went viral as a 12-year-old in 2024 after a debate with My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell at the Democratic National Convention — seems to be Swalwell’s latest swing and a miss.
