President Donald Trump paid homage to HBO's award-winning series Game of Thrones when he posted a tweet referencing the show's famous catchphrase "Winter is coming" on Friday. However, the network, along with members of the cast, wasn't all that impressed with the president's effort.
HBO condemned Trump's use of the trademarked line shortly after he shared a photo of himself against a GoT-like backdrop with the phrase, "Sanctions are Coming," written in a nearly identical font used by the network in its GoT marketing. "We were not aware of this messaging and would prefer our trademark not be misappropriated for political purposes," HBO said in a statement released to The Hollywood Reporter on Friday.
The network took it a step further and teased potential legal action when it's social account tweeted, "How do you say trademark misuse in Dothraki?"
How do you say trademark misuse in Dothraki?
— HBO (@HBO) November 2, 2018
Stars of the show have similarly been upset with Trump's riff of the show. Maisie Williams, who plays the role of Arya Stark, was first to respond to Trump's tweet, simply writing, "Not today."
Not today. https://t.co/Jg51mGHPO1
— Maisie Williams (@Maisie_Williams) November 2, 2018
Meanwhile, her on-camera sister, Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark, appeared to be completely grossed out by the president's attempt to cash in on the popular HBO show. "Ew," she wrote in a reply to Trump's tweet.
Ew
— Sophie Turner (@SophieT) November 2, 2018
Trump riffed the phrase following his administration's announcement of newly imposed sanctions on Iran's shipbuilding, shipping, energy and banking divisions, which are slated to take effect on Monday. The imposition comes in the aftermath of the U.S. exit from the nuclear deal instituted by former President Barack Obama.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2018
Trump's misuse of the GoT slogan comes just days after the former reality star was hit with a cease-and-desist letter from Pharell Williams's lawyer, preventing Trump from using the song "Happy" during his political rallies and events.
"On the day of the mass murder of 11 human beings at the hands of a deranged 'nationalist,' you played his song 'Happy' to a crowd at a political event in Indiana," attorney Howard King wrote in the letter issued on Tuesday. "There was nothing 'happy' about the tragedy inflicted upon our country on Saturday and no permission was granted for your use of this song for this purpose."
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Michigan native, Janice Williams is a graduate of Oakland University where she studied journalism and communication. Upon relocating to New ... Read more
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