Kristi Noem has departed, but the Department of Homeland Security under President Donald Trump remains in the crosshairs months after her exit.
This time, DHS stirred the pot by tying an NFL figure to the administration’s hardline immigration agenda. More than a year after his conversation with Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, the Trump administration appears to have ignited another firestorm.
Once again, they dragged the Eagles alum into the online clash—and now the league is demanding accountability.
As the midterm elections approach, polls indicate Trump and the Republican Party could suffer substantial congressional losses this year. The GOP has leaned on its familiar anti-immigrant playbook in an attempt to shift the political winds back in its favor.
Conservative outlets began fanning voters’ anxieties about immigration by touting a so-called “migrant caravan.” Republicans have employed that fear-mongering tactic in previous election cycles.
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On Sept. 27, DHS drew attention to a report alleging migrants were heading toward the United States’ southern border.
The federal agency also highlighted segments of Brian “Weapon X” Dawkins’ career as a Philadelphia Eagle. The footage showed Dawkins delivering brutal tackles, set to Korn’s 1994 hit “Blind” as the hype video’s soundtrack.
“Our time has come,” read the tweet’s caption.
According to reports, the NFL has asked DHS to remove the post as soon as possible.
Dawkins, the nine-time Pro Bowler who retired in 2012 after 16 seasons, told ESPN that he never granted permission for this post.
He elaborated in a video on X, saying, “I have respectfully not given permission to anyone other than those I currently do business with to use my [name, image, and likeness]. Be Blessed!”
“Let’s be clear. I didn’t give permission for my name, image and likeness to be used by anybody. Anybody,” he continued. “Take a deep breath, take a deep breath. Y’all be blessed.”
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy also rejected Homeland Security’s use of Dawkins as anti-immigration propaganda. McCarthy told Forbes, “We requested DHS take down the video.”
Homeland Security chose not to back down.
“DHS is playing lockdown defense at the border,” DHS replied in a statement. “We will use every weapon at our disposal, from A to X, to keep Americans safe.”
As news of the NFL bucking DHS spread across the internet, social media users weighed in on the latest example of the Trump administration facing criticism for posting unauthorized content.
“They can tell him, but I doubt that he will. He gets away with whatever he wants,” one Trump critic on Threads wrote.
Similarly, another commenter wrote, “This Boomer administration doesn’t care about us. They’ll do whatever the f— they want. I’m so tired.”
“Just destroying everybody’s brand. SMH!” exclaimed another poster, while yet another demanded, “Take it down, Trump.”
In addition, a commenter hinted that Trump should face legal action in a post that stated, “Dawkins and the NFL should clean him out.”
The Eagles faced the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. That nationally televised game occurred one day before DHS released the Dawkins video.
Chicago overwhelmed Philadelphia. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw an interception, while running back Saquon Barkley recorded 82 rushing yards in the team’s 27-7 defeat.
The president is an avid golfer and sports fan overall. Yet, many fans are reluctant to have his name attached to their beloved teams or players.
Whispers of a “Trump curse” resurfaced after the Eagles’ defeat. Previously, Knicks supporters blamed the MAGA leader for a defeat in Game 3 of this year’s NBA Finals.
“His jinx ability should be studied. He jinxed the New York Knicks game he attended, too. Bad luck, Donald,” one Threads user suggested.
Trump drew renewed scrutiny in 2025 for his association with Barkley, then 29. The two men golfed together at the president’s Bedminster course that April, and photos of their camaraderie went viral at the time.
By season’s end, Barkley’s productivity had declined noticeably from his MVP-peak performance in 2025, and the No. 6-seeded San Francisco 49ers upset the third-seeded Eagles in the playoffs.
Trump’s relationship with the NFL has long been complicated. The real estate magnate initially pursued NFL ownership before purchasing the defunct United States Football League’s New Jersey Generals in 1983.
His ties to the league later became contentious as he pushed the USFL to compete head-to-head with the NFL and helped lead an antitrust suit against it.
According to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Trump issued a warning during his unsuccessful 2014 bid to buy the Buffalo Bills: hand over the team or risk launching a presidential campaign.
“Trump told me, quote, ‘If them MF stand in my way and prevent me from getting ownership of the Buffalo Bills’—referring to league owners—‘I’m gonna get them all back. I’m gonna run for president,’” Smith said.
Trump later acknowledged that winning the Bills ownership bid likely would have kept him out of the 2016 presidential race.
Our time has come. https://t.co/Ygzy6Qfni3 pic.twitter.com/xNFNRkAaTq
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) September 27, 2026
