Government Department Accused of Plagiarising Social Media Influencer
Kristi Noem's Department of Homeland Security has sparked controversy after posting a message on X that closely mirrored content from an account promoting "manliness" and traditional masculinity. The incident occurred on Thursday 20 November 2025, raising questions about the department's communication strategies.
The official government account, which boasts 2.8 million followers, shared content strikingly similar to a post published the previous day by "the path to manliness." This account describes itself as dedicated to "helping men become dangerous, disciplined and respected."
Nearly Identical Messaging
Both posts attributed various social and economic problems to migrants, though the government version made some notable alterations. The original influencer post had specifically blamed migrants for rising rent costs, expensive groceries, women feeling unsafe on streets, terrible traffic and costly healthcare.
While the DHS maintained most of these claims in their Thursday morning post, they removed the influencer's assertion that "an extra 20 million people" were responsible for these issues. Instead, the department inserted its own language about "tens of millions of illegal criminals in our country" - a characterization that contradicts court rulings classifying illegal entry as a civil violation rather than a criminal offence.
The influencer had expressed bafflement in his original Wednesday post, stating "It blows my mind how this is hard for people to understand" - a sentiment that appeared to inspire Noem's team according to observers.
Immigration Operations Continue Amid Protests
This social media controversy unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing immigration enforcement operations. In Charlotte, North Carolina, more than 250 arrests were made during a recent surge, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office.
The Trump administration's targets included both individuals living in the US without legal permission and those allegedly with criminal records. However, federal officials have provided limited details about those arrested and remained quiet about the scope and future locations of enforcement operations, creating uncertainty in affected communities.
The crackdown in Charlotte has faced significant public resistance. Approximately 100 protesters gathered outside a Home Depot on Wednesday where federal agents had been repeatedly spotted since the operation began. Demonstrators entered the store carrying signs reading "ICE out of Home Depot, Protect our communities".
Meanwhile, Border Patrol agents were reportedly preparing to launch similar operations in southeast Louisiana, with arrivals expected in New Orleans by the end of the week.
The Independent has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for comment regarding the duplicated social media content and the ongoing immigration enforcement strategy.
