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By Billal Rahman and Shane Croucher
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The comedian Theo Von called out the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for using one of his videos in their own clip promoting the number of deportations carried out under the second Trump administration so far.
Von is a popular figure on the right and interviewed Trump before the 2024 election on his podcast This Past Weekend.
"Yooo DHS i didnt approve to be used in this. I know you know my address so send a check," Von said in a post on X, responding to the DHS clip.
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"And please take this down and please keep me out of your ‘banger’ deportation videos. When it comes to immigration my thoughts and heart are alot more nuanced than this video allows. Bye!"
Newsweek has contacted DHS for comment via email outside of office hours.
Why It Matters
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and it's parent agency DHS have faced increased scrutiny over their enforcement tactics, including allegations of misconduct, denial of due process rights, and racial profiling. The agencies have also used social media to publicize arrests of migrants, which has drawn further attention and sparked debate regarding their practices. The DHS X account has frequently posted content that critics says ridicules migrant arrests. It comes as the Republican led Congress advances sweeping changes to immigration policy aimed at fulfilling Trump's campaign pledge of mass deportations.
Von's response represents a rare instance of a Trump-friendly media figure pushing back against the administration's messaging machine and highlights internal friction within the broader pro-Trump media orbit.
What To Know
In the video used by DHS, Von says: "Heard you got deported, dude. Bye."
The DHS video then shows footage of deportations and says it has overseen two million in 250 days, comprising 1,600,000 self-deportations and 400,000 deportations.
The video shifts to remarks from President Trump, who says, “They simply stopped coming, they are not coming anymore, leave now.” It ends with the caption reading: “Bye.”
A recent United Nations study reported a significant decline in the number of migrants traveling from Central America toward the U.S. under Trump’s administration. According to the study, 49 percent of those who halted their journey cited the perceived difficulty of entering the U.S., while 46 percent said concerns about detention or deportation influenced their decision to stop.
Von has described himself as politically centrist. He reportedly wagered $125,000 on Trump winning the previous election and was noted for aligning with a key theme from Trump’s inaugural address to “put America first.” He was among several podcasters who attended the ceremony.
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What People Are Saying
On Tuesday, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said: “The numbers don’t lie: 2 million illegal aliens have been removed or self-deported in just 250 days— proving that President Trump’s policies and Secretary Noem’s leadership are working and making American communities safe."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen if DHS will remove the clip after Von's request to be compensated.
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