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White House, DHS Post Halo Memes as ICE ‘Destroy the Flood’ Image Draws Backlash

The administration portrays the gaming-themed posts as political branding to claim another “war ended” under President Trump.

Overview

  • Microsoft’s Halo: Combat Evolved remake was announced for Xbox, PC, and PlayStation in 2026, prompting GameStop’s tongue‑in‑cheek declaration that the console wars are over.
  • The White House Rapid Response account amplified GameStop’s post and the official account shared an AI image of Trump as Master Chief, which users flagged for errors such as a 40‑star U.S. flag.
  • DHS later posted a Halo‑styled graphic reading “Destroy the Flood” with a link to an ICE recruitment page and the caption “Finishing this fight,” drawing widespread criticism for dehumanizing immigrants.
  • White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai defended the messaging, calling it another war ended under Trump and claiming he is “giving power to the players.”
  • Microsoft declined to comment on the government’s use of Halo imagery as the posts remained public and commentators warned the DHS framing risks normalizing violent, dehumanizing rhetoric.