Thomas Kinkade Family Condemns DHS Use of Painting for Anti-Immigration Message

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a social media image of Thomas Kinkade’s painting "Morning Pledge" alongside the caption "Protect the Homeland," which has led the Kinkade Family Foundation to condemn the usage as unauthorized and an attempt to promote division and xenophobia tied to the administration's anti-immigration policies. The family expressed deep concern that the artwork, which depicts a nostalgic American scene, was used to support the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and mass deportation efforts, calling the DHS messaging antithetical to Kinkade's legacy and mission. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the post, stating the artwork celebrates American heritage and history, asserting pride in the nation’s founding and those who contributed to its establishment. The Kinkade Family Foundation has requested the removal of the post and is exploring legal options, emphasizing their solidarity with communities targeted by DHS policies, including immigrants, BIPOC, undocumented individuals, LGBTQ+, and disabled people. The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between cultural symbols and their political appropriation amid the Trump administration's aggressive immigration agenda. DHS’s continued use of patriotic imagery on social media to bolster its immigration crackdown has also sparked criticism from left-leaning communities and artists’ families alike.