DHS Says It Will Keep Using Gaming and Movie Imagery Like Halo and Lord of the Rings for Political Messaging
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that it will continue using popular entertainment imagery from franchises such as Halo and The Lord of the Rings in its social media campaigns, even as criticism mounts over the department’s use of these cultural touchstones for political purposes.
The controversy began after Microsoft’s Halo: Campaign Evolved was announced for PlayStation, an event widely regarded as a milestone marking the symbolic end of the console wars. In response, the White House shared an AI-generated image of Donald Trump wearing Spartan armor, evoking Halo’s protagonist Master Chief. Shortly afterward, the DHS official account posted its own Halo-themed image to promote its border security policies on X (formerly Twitter), followed by another post referencing The Lord of the Rings on X.
“The board is set, the pieces are moving. We come to it at last, the great battle of our time.” pic.twitter.com/G6BXEwkOQS
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) October 29, 2025
According to a report by independent journalist Alyssa Mercante on Patreon, the DHS made its stance clear in a statement responding to questions about the use of copyrighted gaming imagery:
“We will reach people where they are with content they can relate to and understand, whether that be Halo, Pokémon, Lord of The Rings, or any other medium. DHS remains laser focused on bringing awareness to the flood of crime that criminal illegal aliens have inflicted on our country. We aren’t slowing down.” — DHS Spokesperson
At the time Mercante contacted the department, the Lord of the Rings post had not yet been published, indicating that the agency’s campaign had already been planned to extend beyond Halo imagery.
Neither Microsoft, which owns the Halo franchise, nor Amazon, which currently holds the rights to The Lord of the Rings, have issued public statements or taken action against the DHS posts. Both companies have the legal authority to request the removal of the images, but their silence so far has drawn criticism from fans who feel the imagery is being misused for partisan messaging.
While the corporations have stayed quiet, individual creators have spoken out strongly. Marcus Lehto, co-creator of Halo and the original designer of Master Chief, expressed his disgust in an interview with Game File:
“It really makes me sick seeing Halo co-opted like this.”
Jaime Griesemer, who served as lead designer on the original Halo games at Bungie, offered a broader perspective but equally condemned the specific DHS post:
“Halo is a cultural icon, and like anything with cultural capital, it’s going to be used by politicians and brands looking for relevancy. Usually, I take it as a compliment to Halo’s continuing legacy. But using Halo imagery in a call to ‘destroy’ people because of their immigration status goes way too far and ought to offend every Halo fan, regardless of political orientation. The Flood are evil space zombie parasites and are not an allegory to any group of people.”
The DHS’s approach underscores how governments and institutions increasingly use pop culture as a communication tool, leveraging familiar imagery to capture public attention. However, using beloved gaming and film franchises to push political agendas risks alienating fan communities and drawing accusations of propaganda.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether the DHS obtained formal permission to use imagery from Microsoft or Amazon. What is clear, however, is that the department plans to continue this strategy, regardless of the growing backlash.
Do you think the DHS should be allowed to use gaming and movie imagery like Halo and Lord of the Rings for political messages, or should companies take a stand against it?
