The "Always has been" meme stems from an illustration of two astronauts floating in space, gazing at Earth. The scene portrays one astronaut, who appears to have just made a shocking realization about Earth, only to be confronted by the second astronaut holding a gun. This image, often accompanied by a simple but impactful caption, "Always has been," suggests that the truth was always evident, yet somehow overlooked. The meme format cleverly captures the essence of a dramatic revelation, using the backdrop of space to emphasize the gravity of the newfound understanding. The meme imagery draws from the iconic portrayal of astronauts in the media, with their white spacesuits and American flags symbolizing exploration and discovery, albeit with a comedic twist of irony and betrayal.