President Donald Trump spoke to reporters at a press conference in the briefing room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 27, 2025. Following criticism of recent memes shared by the White House, including a fake movie poster portraying Trump as Superman, the White House responded on its social media accounts. Defending their use of memes, the White House posted, “Nowhere in the Constitution does it say we can’t post banger memes,” accompanied by an image of an announcement board questioning their posts. One user criticized the Administration for its unserious approach. The White House continued to stand by its memes on official POTUS accounts on various platforms.
Previously, the White House faced backlash for sharing an altered image of Rep. Jimmy Gomez of California, calling him “cryin’ Jimmy” after he criticized an ICE raid at a marijuana farm. This upload was met with condemnation, with some questioning the appropriateness of such comments on the official White House page. Additionally, the White House created a meme replacing actor David Corenswet with Trump in a Superman movie poster, emphasizing “Truth. Justice. The American Way” under a slogan of “A Trump presidency.” This post generated mixed reactions alongside other serious posts about border patrol policies and relief efforts in Texas.
The White House’s movie-themed memes responded to controversy stirred by Superman writer and director James Gunn, who described the superhero as an immigrant symbolizing basic human kindness. Gunn’s comments faced criticism from conservative figures who disagreed with the portrayal of Superman as an immigrant. Amid Trump’s immigration crackdown, figures like Ben Shapiro and Kellyanne Conway expressed disapproval of Gunn’s interpretation. Actor Dean Cain, known for playing Superman on television, also criticized Gunn’s view of the character.
The remarks could affect the movie’s success. At the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 17, 2024, an attendee displayed a mock superhero comic book with Trump on the cover. While some in the political arena have expressed support for Gunn’s portrayal of the character, others have voiced differing opinions. Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of California emphasized that Superman’s story is one of immigration and standing up for good against powerful adversaries. Governor Gavin Newsom and his team have also engaged in the political conversation, particularly regarding immigration-related issues in Los Angeles. In response to the White House’s depiction of Trump as Superman, Newsom’s office stated, “Superman was an undocumented immigrant.” For further inquiries, contact Olivia-Anne Cleary at olivia-anne.cleary@time.com.
