Trump officials spark major backlash after using popular Gen Z trend to ‘promote’ deportation
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, Travel, Social Media
Lucy Devine
Featured Image Credit: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, Travel, Social Media
US President Donald Trump's team have sparked backlash online after using a popular Gen Z trend to 'promote' deportation.
Since beginning his second term of presidency back in January, Trump has cracked down on what he has called the 'largest deportation in American history', making some very controversial decisions on immigration in the process.
Just last month, the President was slammed for his 'cruel' remarks about 'Alligator Alcatraz', a new migrant facility in Florida that has itself been criticised for its lack of human rights.
And now, the Trump administration's social media is under fire for appearing to make light of deporting migrants from the US.
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In a video shared on the official White House X page, the administration shared a clip of immigrants being boarded out of a car and onto a plane, to the soundtrack of the viral Jet2 Holiday tune.
Alongside the video, a post from the administration reads: "When ICE books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation. Nothing beats it!"
The video then shifts to a screengrab of the government app, CBP Home - which people can use to self-deport - as well as Trump giving a thumbs up at the camera.
Many people thought the clip was distasteful, with social media users criticising Trump's team for sharing the video.
One person wrote on the post: "This is horrible. This country is horrible," while another said: "Have some class."
And a third added: "Okay, this is savage."
When approached by Tyla for comment, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said: "There is nothing more unifying and positive than deporting criminal illegal aliens and making American communities safer. The memes will continue until every criminal illegal alien is removed!"
In case you've not heard about the Jet2 Holiday craze, it's pretty much been impossible to open up TikTok over the last few weeks without the voice of a woman blurting out: "Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday, and right now, you can save £50 per person!"
This is all while Jess Glynne's 2015 banger 'Hold My Hand' is heard blasting in the background.
The viral sound that has since come to feature on thousands of online videos was first founded in 2019, when voiceover artist Zoë Lister was hired to record a new campaign for the British budget airline.
In the years since, holiday-makers have heard Lister's voice featuring on television ads and in online campaigns.
It's also played over the tannoy as travellers embark onto their Jet2 aircrafts.
What started as a means of promoting the travel brand's latest discount, however, has since become a TikTok sensation.
Speaking about the craze, Lister recently told press: "It just sort of escalated. They said actually we want you for the campaigns as well. And I was like, great. Now it's just been ticking over every year since then, which has been marvellous.
"There's so many voiceovers out there, I don't know why it's seeped into the public consciousness in the way that it has. It seems to represent Britishness or something like that, I don't know!
"You'll have to ask Gen Z why they love it so much."