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demmiblue

(38,676 posts)

2. DHS is posting Americana paintings and migrant mugshots. The art world is not happy.

Tue Jul 29, 2025, 03:50 PM

Jul 29

Homeland Security is sharing images of pastoral paintings bookended by posts cheering Trump’s deportation campaign. Some artists are pushing back.

The Department of Homeland Security’s social media feed in early July was largely filled with images of “Alligator Alcatraz” and promises to “MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN” by deporting the “WORST OF THE WORST.”

Then the agency shared an image of Thomas Kinkade’s “Morning Pledge,” a painting depicting children walking to a schoolhouse where an American flag towers in the yard.

“Protect the Homeland,” DHS wrote.

The American artist died in 2012, but when his family saw how his work was being used by the Trump administration, they were aghast. Kinkade was deeply committed to humanitarian causes, a spokesperson for the Kinkade Family Foundation told The Washington Post, and made paintings that offered a sense of dignity and hope, especially to those denied basic human rights. That felt starkly in contrast with DHS’s mass deportation campaign and its social media account depicting immigrants as criminals.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/07/29/trump-dhs-immigrants-social-paintings/

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Highlight:

Thomas Kinkade's family (!) sent DHS a cease-and-desist letter: [View all] demmiblue Jul 29 OP

I am glad to see this senseandsensibility Jul 29 #1

And some weird behavioral issues BaronChocula Jul 29 #6

me too. AllaN01Bear Jul 29 #25

Me three. calimary Jul 30 #31

DHS is posting Americana paintings and migrant mugshots. The art world is not happy. demmiblue Jul 29 #2

This shit is so fucking weird. Initech Jul 29 #19

It's for Krissy's "colored hating" base in South Dakota and North Dakota... IthinkThereforeIAM Jul 30 #34

Showing America how to stand up against the tyranny of this regime mountain grammy Jul 29 #3

Just for the sake of clarity, soldierant Jul 29 #4

And the song Hail Columbia (a tune for Washington) was composed by Historic NY Jul 30 #35

When the Department of Homeland Security was created, I knew nothing good would come LoisB Jul 29 #5

I know, right? BaronChocula Jul 29 #7

Yes! It creeped me out too. LoisB Jul 29 #9

I knew someone who worked for another US agency when DHS was created (post 9/11) erronis Jul 29 #11

Oh boy, don't get me started... BaronChocula Jul 29 #21

That's a sad story. erronis Jul 29 #24

Amen to that BaronChocula Jul 29 #26

That is sad. I have a feeling that happened to many people because we sure have LoisB Jul 29 #22

Damn right. It's straight out of 2 millennia of European wars claiming "Blood & Soil" & of course God... Hekate Jul 29 #12

100%. LoisB Jul 29 #29

My immediate response to the creation of that department -- madamesilverspurs Jul 29 #14

Indeed. LoisB Jul 29 #23

Thank you! llmart Jul 29 #28

I think a lot of us did. At least, those of us who value what the U.S. is supposed to be. LoisB Jul 29 #30

I grew up with Thomas and Patrick Kinkade pfitz59 Jul 29 #8

MAGA Corrupts Everything It Touches. BurnDoubt Jul 29 #10

This is the offending post melm00se Jul 29 #13

Nice! tavernier Jul 29 #15

This is so overtly Fascist, it's incredible. Oneironaut Jul 29 #16

Good. So tired of an administration that thinks winning daily meme wars equals governing. tanyev Jul 29 #17

demmiblue........... Upthevibe Jul 29 #18

I thought they were fairly far right. Norbert Jul 29 #20

Good to hear. Xavier Breath Jul 29 #27

good for the crapkaid family, but i see why dim donnie used this. pansypoo53219 Jul 30 #32

Kinkade's "art" is sentimental schlock -- but good for his family Betty Boom Jul 30 #33