DHS faces backlash from Theo Von, Pokémon over social media posts
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
A split screen image shows a Pokémon card next to a photograph of comedian and podcast host Theo Von. Photos: Thomas Trutschel, Variety via Getty Images
Use of video clips from Nintendo's Pokémon and comedian Theo Von has prompted a new round of backlash for the Department of Homeland Security after the federal agency included them in social media posts without permission.
The big picture: DHS has repeatedly leaned on memes and internet culture to promote immigration policy — a strategy that has drawn criticism from rights holders and advocates.
Driving the news: DHS's Monday video compared the arrest of migrants to catching Pokémon, using the franchise's catchphrase "Gotta Catch 'Em All."
- The one-minute clip spliced footage of ICE arrests with Pokémon scenes and music.
- Von, the podcast host of "This Past Weekend," also found himself on the DHS X account on Tuesday via a clip where Von says: "Heard you got deported, dude. Bye."
- The sound bite, which Von says was taken out of context from a larger discussion on immigration, was included in the post, which praised the increase in deportations under the Trump administration.
Zoom out: DHS has seen repeated backlash for its social media decisions since the Trump administration took over the account in January.
- In a promotional video from July, the agency used Woody Guthrie's song "This Land is Your Land," despite the tune being written as a socialist protest anthem, prompting criticism of its use to promote the administration's immigration agenda.
- A post about Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's visit to Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), the high-security El Salvador prison, sparked disapproval as she stood in front of shirtless inmates packed into a cell, warning, "If you come to our country illegally, this is one of the consequences you could face."
DHS has pushed back on critical coverage of its social media posts, accusing outlets of downplaying crimes by undocumented immigrants while focusing too heavily on the agency's online presence.
What they're saying: The Pokémon Company International told Axios they are aware of the DHS video.
- "Our company was not involved in the creation or distribution of this content, and permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property," the statement said.
- Nintendo did not respond by publication time when asked if they would pursue legal action over the video, but told NBC News: "We don't have anything to share at this time."
- Von took his response to X on Tuesday, posting, "Yooo DHS i didnt approve to be used in this ... And please take this down and please keep me out of your 'banger' deportation videos. When it comes to immigration my thoughts and heart are a lot more nuanced than this video allows."
- The video containing Von's podcast clip was unavailable on DHS's X account as of Wednesday afternoon. The Pokémon video, however, remained visible.
- DHS didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
