REPRESENTASI KRITIK POLITIK DALAM MEME KEBIJAKAN PRESIDEN DI INSTAGRAM (Analisis Semiotika Meme Kebijakan Presiden Pada Akun Instagram @memecomic.id, @mrci.id, dan @pemiluland)

The development of digital technology has changed the way people express their opinions and criticize the government. One popular form of expression on social media, especially Instagram, is the use of political memes. Memes have become a communication medium that combines elements of humor, sarcasm, and social criticism of various government policies. This study, entitled "Representation of Political Criticism in Presidential Policy Memes on Instagram," aims to determine the meaning of representation contained in political memes related to presidential policies on Instagram. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with a semiotic analysis method. The analysis was conducted on ten political memes uploaded to three Instagram accounts, namely @memecomic.id, @pemiluland, and @mrci.id, which discussed the issues of 12% VAT, Budget Efficiency, and the TNI Bill during the period January–May 2025. Data were analyzed using Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotic trichotomy, which divides signs into Sign, Object, and Interpretant to interpret the meaning contained in memes. The results show that political memes become a form of representation of social criticism and symbolic resistance of society to presidential policies. Each sign element in a meme displays a form of satire and an expression of public distrust of policies deemed unfavorable to the people. Furthermore, Instagram serves as a public space that allows people to actively participate in political discourse openly, quickly, and creatively. Thus, political memes serve not only as entertainment but also as a digital political communication tool capable of shaping critical awareness and public opinion.