The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is facing a storm of criticism after a pair of recent social media videos sparked outrage from both high-profile figures and major entertainment brands. The controversy, which erupted over the past week, centers on DHS’s use of internet culture, memes, and unauthorized video clips in its campaign to promote its immigration policy—drawing sharp rebukes from comedian Theo Von, The Pokémon Company International, and a chorus of online commentators.
On September 22, 2025, DHS posted a one-minute video on X (formerly Twitter) that compared the arrest of migrants to catching Pokémon. The video, which spliced footage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests with animated scenes and music from the Pokémon franchise, boldly used the catchphrase “Gotta Catch ’Em All.” According to reporting by Axios, the video was produced and shared without the permission of Nintendo or The Pokémon Company International, both of which own the rights to the globally recognized brand.
The following day, DHS posted a 31-second video clip featuring comedian and podcast host Theo Von. The clip, taken from Von’s popular podcast “This Past Weekend,” showed him saying, “Heard you got deported, dude. Bye.” The video went further, highlighting the Trump administration’s deportation statistics and featuring a clip of President Donald Trump stating, “They simply stopped coming. They’re not coming anymore.” The video ended with the message “LEAVE NOW” superimposed over footage of an aircraft taking off, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Theo Von, who commands a following of more than 1.6 million on X, was quick to respond. On September 24, Von publicly condemned the use of his podcast snippet, 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.” In a tongue-in-cheek addition, Von wrote, “I know you know my address so send a check.” His post quickly went viral, garnering over 21 million views and sparking widespread debate about government use of personal content and internet culture.
What makes Von’s criticism especially notable is his previously cordial relationship with President Trump and other leading figures in the current administration. Trump himself appeared on Von’s podcast in August 2024, reportedly at the encouragement of his youngest son, Barron. Von was also invited by the White House to accompany Trump on his first official international trip in May 2025, where Von spoke to troops at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar before Trump addressed the military. Vice President JD Vance was a guest on Von’s podcast for nearly an hour and a half in June 2025, according to Axios and Hindustan Times.
Despite these connections, Von’s rebuke was unequivocal. “When it comes to immigration my thoughts and heart are a lot more nuanced than this video allows,” he wrote, making it clear that his inclusion in the DHS’s messaging did not reflect his views on the complex topic of immigration policy.
DHS responded to the backlash by removing the video featuring Von from its X account by September 24, 2025. However, the Pokémon-themed video remained visible as of Wednesday afternoon. The agency has not publicly commented on Von’s objections or the broader criticism directed at its social media strategy, according to Axios.
The Pokémon Company International also weighed in, telling Axios that it was aware of the DHS video and had not granted permission for the use of its intellectual property. “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 company said. When asked whether legal action was being considered, Nintendo responded to NBC News with, “We don’t have anything to share at this time.”
This is not the first time DHS has come under fire for its use of memes and pop culture references to promote immigration policy. Since the Trump administration took over the agency’s social media accounts in January 2025, there have been several incidents that have drawn public scrutiny. In July, a promotional video used Woody Guthrie’s song “This Land is Your Land”—a tune originally written as a socialist protest anthem—to promote the administration’s immigration agenda, prompting criticism from music historians and political commentators alike.
Another controversial post featured Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during her visit to El Salvador’s Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), a high-security prison. The image showed Noem standing in front of shirtless inmates crammed into a cell, with the warning: “If you come to our country illegally, this is one of the consequences you could face.” Critics argued that the post was both insensitive and misleading, leveraging fear rather than policy substance to communicate with the public.
DHS has pushed back on critical media coverage, accusing outlets of focusing too much on the agency’s online presence while downplaying crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. Still, the backlash from rights holders, public figures, and advocacy groups has only intensified as DHS continues to lean on internet culture and unauthorized content in its messaging.
The latest controversy has also reignited debate over the use of personal and copyrighted material by government agencies. Legal experts note that while the government enjoys certain privileges in its communications, it is not exempt from copyright law or the need to obtain consent for using individuals’ likenesses and creative works. The fact that DHS’s videos were so quickly taken down after public outcry suggests a recognition—at least tacitly—of these boundaries.
For Theo Von, the incident highlights the risks of being swept up in political messaging without consent, even for those with friendly ties to the administration. For The Pokémon Company International, it’s a reminder of the enduring power—and vulnerability—of iconic brands in the digital age.
With the Pokémon video still live and no formal response from DHS, questions remain about the agency’s social media strategy and its willingness to address concerns from both creators and the public. As the dust settles, the episode stands as a cautionary tale about the intersection of politics, pop culture, and personal consent in an era when a single viral post can ignite a national conversation.
