Trump as Superman? Sure, because serious is boring!

Apparently, we’ve reached the part of the political timeline where the official White House communication strategy includes memes so cringeworthy they’d make a teenager reconsider Wi-Fi. The latest gem? A doctored movie poster recasting Donald Trump as Superman. Yes, really.

Posted across all key social platforms late on Friday, the meme came with a deadpan caption: 'Nowhere in the Constitution does it say we can’t post banger memes,' alongside an image of a signboard asking the burning question: 'OMG, did the White House really post this?'

Naturally, the answer was yes. And naturally, the backlash was swift. One X user summed up the general mood: “This shows how unserious this Administration is.” They weren't alone in thinking that running the country via Canva might not be ideal.

But the White House, not known lately for backing down, doubled down. The same bravado spilled onto the official @POTUS accounts on X, Instagram, and Facebook like it was the social media intern’s last day.

And it didn’t stop there.

Earlier that Friday, the administration shared another AI-enhanced masterpiece — this time featuring Representative Jimmy Gomez (a California Democrat) Photoshopped into a teary-eyed mess after he dared criticise an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raid at a marijuana farm. The post, which labelled him 'cryin’ Jimmy', went down about as well as a budget cut to puppies. One Instagram user nailed the mood: “Why is the official White House page making these kind[s] of comments?” An excellent question, tragically left unanswered.

THE SYMBOL OF HOPE.

TRUTH. JUSTICE. THE AMERICAN WAY.

SUPERMAN TRUMP. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/fwFWeYonAq

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 11, 2025

For Trump, tariffs are like toys— can India really trust him?

Then came Thursday night’s pièce de résistance: a 'Trumpi-fied' version of the new Superman film poster. Where James Gunn’s original promo featured actor David Corenswet, the White House version replaced him with a glowering Trump. Gone was 'A James Gunn film'. In its place? The stunningly original 'A Trump presidency', with the solemn tagline: 'Truth. Justice. The American Way'.

And because subtlety is dead and buried, the caption hailed 'Superman Trump' as a 'symbol of hope'. Presumably hope for more memes and fewer coherent policies.

This bit of cosplay politics came just as the administration was juggling slightly more serious matters — like defending its border patrol policies or responding to the catastrophic floods in Texas. But sure, memes first.

Enter the culture war

Unsurprisingly, this Marvel–DC crossover of politics and pop culture stirred the hornet’s nest. The original trigger? Director Gunn’s comment that Superman is — brace yourselves — an immigrant.

In a Times of London interview, Gunn said: “I mean, Superman is the story of America. An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country, but for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost.”

Cue outrage from the usual suspects. With Trump’s immigration crackdown ramping up — ICE raids have become an everyday feature, particularly in places like Texas and California — conservative talking heads were quick to lose the plot.

Ben Shapiro wailed that “Superman is going woke". Meanwhile, former Trump White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway popped up on Fox News to bemoan the horror of... storytelling with a message.

I'm at a loss for words...

Superman was an undocumented immigrant shot to Earth in a spaceship. Trump would’ve had ICE waiting on the landing pad.

Superman fought corrupt billionaires like Lex Luthor. Trump is Lex Luthor, minus the genius.

Superman lifted people up. Trump cuts… pic.twitter.com/4UqWRFNML4

— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) July 11, 2025

The world does not need an emperor: Lula’s savage response to Trump

According to her, people don’t go to the cinema “to be lectured to” or have ideologies “thrown onto us”. Apparently, truth and justice are fine, as long as they don’t come with nuance.

Actor Dean Cain — once TV’s Superman before tights and capes became cool again — also chimed in. Speaking to TMZ, he declared it was “a mistake by James Gunn to say it’s an immigrant thing”, worrying aloud that such comments might tank the film’s success. Because the real threat to Superman isn’t Lex Luthor, it’s... thematic depth.

Not everyone’s melting down

Of course, not all politicians are frothing at the mouth over a fictional alien’s immigration status.

Democratic Representative Robert Garcia of California stepped up in Gunn’s defence: “I’m a long time Superman fan, and I want to be clear: The Superman story is an immigration story of an outsider who tries to always do the most good,” he said. “His arch nemesis is a billionaire. You don’t get to change who he is because you don’t like his story. Comics are political.”

Meanwhile, California governor Gavin Newsom — never one to miss a good political meme war — waded in too. You might recall that Newsom took the Trump administration to court when the President decided to play toy soldiers by deploying the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles, uninvited, to handle anti-immigration protests.

With ICE raids blanketing California like a fog of bad decisions, Newsom and team have been vocal critics. So when the White House posted its Trump-as-Superman meme, Newsom's office responded with a reminder that was both factual and surgical: “Superman was an undocumented immigrant.”

Mic drop. Cape flutter. Credits roll.

With media reports