A distasteful Valentine’s Day meme posted on the White House X account probably had Trump supporters chuckling, but for many others, it prompted nothing more than head-shaking disbelief.
“Roses are red, violets are blue. Come here illegally, and we’ll deport you,” the meme reads. Below the text are cut-out faces of a grim-looking President Donald Trump and his equally stern border czar, Tom Homan, set against a pink background adorned with hearts.
Perhaps the most unsavory aspect of the “Love and Friendship Day” meme is that it was reposted on X by the U.S. embassy in Mexico City—an institution supposedly representing the highest standards of international diplomatic decorum. While such behavior from the White House is hardly surprising these days, the larger concern is what kind of conduct we should expect from the U.S. mission here over the next four years. We can only hope the staff at the new U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara will demonstrate more restraint and maturity than their Mexico City counterparts on their social media pages.
Immigration policy can be debated, but it’s crucial that enforcement is always balanced with human dignity—values that should be of utmost importance to the United States.
Foreign Service Officers (FSOs), who represent U.S. interests abroad, are expected to remain nonpartisan professionals, serving under any administration, regardless of their personal political beliefs. Yet, as this bold new administration takes hold, many FSOs may face significant personal challenges in maintaining their professional integrity while being asked to promote and implement policies they find deeply disagreeable.
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