The article studies COVID-19 memes in a Reddit community that realize a paradoxical communicative strategy, the one that is formally aimed at consolidating the society and reducing tension in a crisis situation, but in reality positions the target audience as threatening “Others”. Two main argumentation schemes are discussed: 1) the scheme showing all Americans as inconsiderate or stupid and, thus, contributing to the deteriorating pandemic situation; 2) the scheme singling out some population groups that are presented as a threat and encouraging aggression against them. Both verbal and iconic components of the memes are taken into consideration as means that help to develop these schemes.