I think because keyboards on Android etc. suggest an emoji by default based on the last word, and people seem to think it "softens" a sentence, especially when mentioning something embarrassing, like sex.

> The EU Data Protection Board, the European Parliament’s Research Service and the EU Council’s Legal Service say they are warning of chat controls. Ursula von der Leyen is not interested in these opinions <clown and red flag emojis>

This is straight up crass and off-putting. These shitposting emojis do not belong in a serious pitch.

Yes, that particular example was especially off-putting.

I wonder if it's effective for their intended audience, though?