Trump Joins Penguin Meme Trend, Signals Renewed Push For Greenland

The United States’ renewed focus on Greenland has taken an unusual turn, shifting from diplomatic rhetoric to internet culture, after the White House shared an AI-generated image of President Donald Trump alongside a penguin in an icy landscape, sparking widespread online debate and ridicule.

The image, posted from the White House’s official social media account, shows Trump walking with a penguin toward snow-covered mountains bearing the flag of Greenland, while the penguin appears to hold a US flag. The caption, “Embrace The Penguin”, referenced a long-running internet trend built around the so-called “Nihilist Penguin” meme, which has circulated online for nearly two decades.

The meme originates from filmmaker Werner Herzog’s 2007 documentary Encounters at the End of the World, featuring footage of a lone Adelie penguin wandering away from its colony in Antarctica. Over time, the clip evolved into a symbol of absurdity and existential humour, often used online to convey irony or detachment. The White House post appeared to deliberately tap into this trend while subtly echoing Trump’s long-stated interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark.

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However, the post quickly drew criticism for a basic factual error. Penguins do not inhabit the Arctic, including Greenland, but live exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Social media users were quick to point out the mistake, calling the post “embarrassing” and accusing the administration of confusing Antarctica with the Arctic.

Journalists and official accounts joined the mockery. Guardian journalist Pippa Crerar noted bluntly that penguins are not found in the Arctic, while the UK Cabinet Office’s Chief Mouser account commented, “Penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere.” Other users edited the image to replace the penguin with a polar bear or added captions correcting the setting.

The meme follows earlier AI-generated imagery shared by Trump showing himself and senior US officials beside a sign declaring Greenland a US territory. While the White House has not clarified whether the latest post reflects policy messaging or online satire, it has once again reignited discussion—and criticism—around Trump’s unconventional approach to geopolitics in the digital age.

Also Read: PM Nielsen Confirms Greenland Will Stay in Kingdom of Denmark, Rejecting US Control