Restore Professionalism to Government Social Media Accounts

Stefania Pelfini via Getty Images

If youve been active on X over the past year, you may have noticed a surge in extreme right-wing content, largely amplified since Elon Musk took control. This past weekend, the account representing the Trump administration reacted strongly following the shooting of two National Guard members in D.C. by a naturalized U.S. citizen from Afghanistan.

The Department of Homeland Securitys official account drew significant attention for posting content widely criticized as racist, using the term remigrationa term historically associated with ethnic cleansing. This is not an isolated incident for the DHS; earlier posts repeatedly blamed immigrants for societal issues, such as rising rent, grocery prices, and unemployment, framing undocumented immigrants as the root cause of these problems.

One DHS post from November 20, 2025, exemplified this approach, repeatedly citing tens of millions of criminal illegals as the cause of everyday challenges in the U.S. These statements ignore the governments responsibility to provide access to healthcare, welfare, and employment opportunities for all residents.

While X has a reputation for controversial content, the expectation remains that official government accounts should maintain professionalism. Instead, some posts echo far-right conspiracy narratives, including ICE recruitment content that trivializes immigration enforcement.

These posts have sparked public backlash, including reactions from celebrities. For example, DHS shared an Instagram reel encouraging immigrants to self-deport set to a popular song by Olivia Rodrigo, prompting the singer to publicly object to the use of her music for promoting harmful messages.

Many social media users have responded critically, highlighting the contradictions in these posts. Memes and comments point out the inaccuracies and unfairness of blaming undocumented immigrants for societal issues they do not cause.

Even as such content becomes more commonplace from government accounts, it remains crucial to call out these actions as inappropriate and unprofessional. Regardless of individual views on immigration, mocking the struggles of others is widely regarded as unacceptable behavior.

Author: Caleb Jennings