Television network HBO has warned US President Donald Trump to stay away from using memes inspired by Game of Thrones for political purposes.
On Thursday, Trump took to his official Twitter to celebrate the release of Robert Mueller’s Russia report with a tweet inspired from the hit fantasy show. In a photoshopped image with the title font of Game of Thrones, Trump can be seen with his back to the camera with mist and fog flowing in front of him. He can also be seen wearing a black overcoat, his wardrobe staple. The words on it read: "No collusion. No obstruction. For the haters and the radical left democrats -- Game Over."
After Trump tweeted the image, HBO wasted no time in firing back. The issued a statement which said, "Though we can understand the enthusiasm for 'Game of Thrones' now that the final season has arrived, we still prefer our intellectual property not be used for political purposes,".
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2019
This is not the first time the makers of the show have warned Trump. Last year, Trump had been asked not to use the show’s imagery to threaten sanctions. "We were not aware of this messaging and would prefer our trademark not be misappropriated for political purposes," a spokesman had said. The show’s official Twitter account also added, saying, “How do you say trademark misuse in Dothraki?"
On the home front, the same situation occurred in India amidst the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The Election Commission, Press Information Bureau and Congress picked popular references from the fantasy series to connect with the people and express their views. The Press Information Bureau (PIB), the publicity arm of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shared a picture which featured the popular character Tyrion Lannister with the message, "A very small man can cast a very large one", Hodor with "Not all heroes hold weapons... Some just vote" and the dragon soaring high with a message calling the Lok Sabha elections the 'Festival of Democracy'. The caption read: "No matter how big or small one is, every vote has equal power. This Lok Sabha Elections, become a true hero. Go OuT and vote... It matters."
No matter how big or small one is, every vote has equal power.
This #LokSabhaElections , become a true hero.
Go OuT and vote... #ItMatters#LokSabhaElections2019 #GeneralElections2019
Courtesy : #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/XeleT4cdWi— PIB India (@PIB_India) April 15, 2019
The show with its complicated political gambits and schemes is also being used to make political jibes in India.
Congress took a potshot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other ministers of the Bharatiya Janata Party through a GoT reference. Taking to Twitter, the party posted a photoshopped GoT poster, showing Modi as the Night King, the commander of White Walkers and the villain of the series. Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP President Amit Shah are also seen as villainous characters from the HBO show in the poster. The caption read: "Spoiler Alert: When you play the Game of Thieves, you either lose or you bribe! #BJPGameOfThieves" -- with this they twisted the original line: 'when you play the game of thrones, you win or you die for their political motive."
Spoiler Alert: When you play the Game of Thieves, you either lose or you bribe! #BJPGameOfThieves pic.twitter.com/wAemvSrYY1
— Congress (@INCIndia) April 15, 2019
The Election Commission of India (EC) also posted a poster "Got inked" -- showing a dragon in the background.
Source: IANS
