The White House faced significant ridicule on social media after sharing an altered image of President Donald Trump, depicted as Superman, on its official X account on Thursday, July 10, 2025. The image featured a muscular Trump in Superman’s costume with the phrases “A Trump Presidency” and “Truth, Justice and the American Way.”
This controversial post coincided with the release of a new Superman movie, which drew criticism from conservative commentators following filmmaker James Gunn’s remarks about the superhero’s story reflecting themes of American immigration. Gunn told the Times of London that Superman represents “an immigrant that came from other places and populated the country,” describing the film as a celebration of “basic human kindness.”
Right-wing critics labeled the movie as “woke” and criticized it without viewing the film. The White House seemingly responded by using the Superman imagery for Trump’s political messaging, though this strategy was not well received on social media, where the portrayal was considered absurd.
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia reacted to the post by suggesting Trump more closely resembled Superman’s nemesis, stating on X that “He’s literally Lex Luthor.” The comparison highlighted the irony of depicting Trump as a heroic immigrant character given his administration’s strong anti-immigration policies.
MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan criticized the normalization of such unusual White House communications, pointing out the double standard applied to Trump’s social media presence. Hasan noted that similar posts from the Biden administration would have generated significant controversy, but Trump receives different treatment from the media and political observers.
The incident is part of a broader pattern of unconventional White House social media activity during Trump’s second term. In February, the administration posted a Valentine’s Day message with Trump and border czar Tom Homan that included anti-immigration themes, using the format “Roses are red / Violets are blue / Come here illegally / And we’ll deport you.”
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus responded to the Valentine’s message by telling the White House that while officials might not take their job seriously, lawmakers do. The group criticized the administration’s deportation policies as inhumane and damaging to the economy while separating families.
Several social media users expressed disbelief that the Superman image came from an official government account rather than a parody source. Nigerian journalist Nigel D’Souza noted, “This is not a parody account.”
The White House’s social media strategy has drawn comparisons to the tactics of authoritarian state media. Critics have likened Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s statements about Trump to propaganda typically seen in North Korea, particularly her claims about the administration having “truth on our side.”
The administration has also made changes to White House digital communications, including removing the Spanish-language version of the official website within 24 hours of Trump’s inauguration. This move eliminated resources for Spanish-speaking Americans seeking government information, reversing a practice that had been maintained by previous administrations from both parties.
Trump’s White House has further reduced transparency by withholding most transcripts of the President’s public remarks. According to a HuffPost analysis, the administration published only 29 transcripts of Trump’s 146 public comments during his first 100 days, representing a 20 percent release rate compared to previous administrations that routinely published all transcripts.
The administration has also removed various government websites containing health information, reproductive rights resources, and LGBTQ-related content. These changes reflect broader policy shifts while limiting public access to government information and services.
Media relations have deteriorated further with the administration’s decision to remove HuffPost and The Associated Press from the White House press pool. This move breaks decades of precedent for transparent presidential coverage and follows assertive questioning by reporters that apparently displeased Trump.
The Superman image controversy highlights the administration’s approach to communications that blends entertainment, politics, and social media in ways that previous White House teams avoided. Critics argue such posts diminish the dignity of the presidency, while supporters view them as effective political messaging.
International observers have noted the unusual nature of the White House’s social media presence, with some commentators suggesting that foreign leaders privately share amusement over the administration’s unconventional communications style. The Superman post adds to a series of incidents that have drawn mockery from domestic and international audiences.
The administration’s social media strategy appears designed to generate attention and headlines rather than provide traditional government communications. This approach reflects Trump’s continued focus on media coverage and public relations, even when the resulting attention proves largely negative.
