The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted an image of Morgan Weistling's oil painting "New Life in A New Land" on its X account with the caption "Remember Your Homeland’s Heritage," without obtaining the artist's permission. Weistling publicly stated that the use was a violation of his copyright, expressing surprise and seeking next steps. The painting depicts a pioneer family in a covered wagon, and DHS had also recently used a Thomas Kinkade work without apparent authorization.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions between government agencies and artists over unauthorized use of copyrighted imagery on official social media, especially when the artwork is co-opted for political messaging. Weistling's alignment with conservative causes, including a partnership with Focus on the Family, adds complexity to the debate about intellectual property rights versus free political expression, and raises questions about how federal entities handle permissions for visual content.