The government or 4chan? The White House’s social media account is sparking outreach

The official White House social media account is under fire for posts that resemble something typically found on the internet forum 4chan.

A post shared on February 14, styled like a Valentine’s card, read, “Roses are red, violets are blue, come here illegally and we’ll deport you.” It has since been viewed 36.6 million times. While many of President Donald Trump’s supporters praised the message, others condemned it as callous. “I thought this was a parody account at first. Absolutely disgusting!” one X user commented. “Classless,” another simply put.

Happy Valentine's Day ♥️ pic.twitter.com/6d7qmo7gtz

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 14, 2025

On February 18, another post tapped into the ASMR trend—short for “autonomous sensory meridian response,” a term for the tingling sensation some people experience in response to certain sounds or visuals. The video featured audio of a plane, chains clinking against the ground, handcuffs being fastened, and footsteps ascending a metal staircase. It was titled, “ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight.”

ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight 🔊 pic.twitter.com/O6L1iYt9b4

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 18, 2025

X owner and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief Elon Musk reposted the video writing, “Haha, wow,” accompanied by Frankenstein and gold medal emojis. Many commenters, however, were alarmed by the apparent trivialization of a serious humanitarian issue. “And you’re telling me this isn’t a fascist dictatorship? Making ‘ASMR’ about a human being being deported is beyond cruel. That’s some cartoon type evil,” one wrote.

Another commented: “As a European watching this reality show called ‘American Politics’ unfold, I didn’t think they could go any lower at this point.”

The White House posts signal a shift in tone and strategy from the norm for official accounts of those governing the country. Rather than maintaining a neutral, bureaucratic voice, the White House’s official X account now resembles that of a social media troll. In response to the backlash, White House spokesman Harrison Fields told The New York Times, “President Trump is committed to using every direct line of communication to the American people.”

While the 2024 election—and the interminable discourse surrounding Kamala HQ and Brat summer—proved there is room within politics for internet lingo, the question remains: Where should the line be drawn for an official government account?

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