Comedian and podcaster Theo Von, one of the most recognizable figures within the online “manosphere,” found himself at the center of an unexpected political dispute after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) featured him in a promotional video supporting the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement campaign.
Theo Von, host of the popular show This Past Weekend, became emotional while discussing the incident during a recent episode. The 45-year-old entertainer, whose father immigrated from Nicaragua, spoke about the personal importance of his family’s immigration history. “My father immigrated here from Nicaragua. One of my prized possessions is his immigration papers from when he came here—I have them in frame,” Von said, his voice breaking. “This was just messed up. It was messed up.”
In September, DHS posted a video on its social media channels promoting deportation efforts under the Trump administration’s mass immigration plan. The clip included edited footage of Von saying, “Heard you got deported, dude. Bye!” The soundbite was taken from a previous comedic segment and repurposed to appear as if he was endorsing the deportation campaign.
Theo Von reacted sharply online, writing, “Yooo DHS, I didn’t approve to be used in this. I know you know my address so send a check. And please take this down and please keep me out of your deportation videos.” The post was later deleted, but not before it circulated widely across X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit.
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DHS did not respond to multiple requests for clarification regarding whether permission was sought to use Von’s image or voice in the campaign.
Podcasters Reconsider Trump Ties Amid Immigration Backlash
Theo Von is one of several major podcast hosts who have previously engaged with Donald Trump’s campaign through interviews that helped the former president reach younger male audiences. These appearances often drew millions of views and provided a platform that blended entertainment with political commentary.
However, the recent ICE controversy has placed Von in an uncomfortable position. The comedian, who once helped connect Trump with millennial and Gen Z voters, has since joined a growing list of influencers distancing themselves from the administration’s most controversial policies—particularly the large-scale immigration raids that have drawn national criticism.
Theo Von is not alone. Fellow podcast host Joe Rogan, who endorsed Trump in the 2024 election, has criticized the administration’s intensified deportation raids. In a July episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan described the operations as “insane,” arguing that many of those detained were ordinary workers rather than the violent offenders Trump had promised to target. “I don’t think anybody would have signed up for this,” Rogan said.
Rogan has also accused the administration of “gaslighting” the public in its responses to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and condemned government pressure on late-night programs such as Jimmy Kimmel Live!. “If people on the right are saying ‘Yeah, go get them,’ you’re crazy,” Rogan said during one broadcast. “Because this will be used on you.”
Similarly, streamer Adin Ross, who interviewed Trump in the run-up to the 2024 election, told his audience that he regretted engaging in political advocacy. “I just don’t think I’ll ever care enough again for another politician,” Ross said.
Andrew Schulz, host of the Flagrant podcast, expressed similar frustration, stating that the administration’s fiscal and foreign policy decisions contradicted the promises made during the campaign. “He’s doing the exact opposite of everything I voted for. I want him to stop the wars—he’s funding them,” Schulz said.
Shifting Tone Within the Podcast Sphere
Theo Von’s public frustration reflects a larger trend among influential online personalities who previously helped amplify Trump’s reach. During the 2024 campaign, Trump made multiple appearances on long-form podcasts, where he was often treated more as a celebrity guest than a political figure. Those interviews helped humanize him to an audience of millions of young men who were otherwise disengaged from mainstream political media.
However, polling data now indicates that many of those same voters have turned away. According to an NBC News survey in September, only one-third of Americans aged 18 to 29 approved of Trump’s handling of immigration, while 67 percent disapproved. Another CBS/YouGov poll conducted earlier this month found that 58 percent of Americans overall now disapprove of the president’s performance.
Within that shifting landscape, several of Trump’s former podcast allies are re-evaluating their alignment with his policies. In August, reports suggested that Trump’s campaign team considered enlisting Rogan’s help to address the fallout from the Epstein-related investigations, though the collaboration never materialized.
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In a separate interview on This Past Weekend, Von hosted Vice President J.D. Vance to discuss the administration’s response to the Israel-Gaza conflict, describing footage from Gaza as “the sickest thing” he had seen. “Where it gets scary is that we’re complicit in it because we help fund, like, military stuff,” he told Vance.
Theo Von’s recent emotional remarks about his father’s immigration papers drew widespread sympathy from fans and fellow comedians, many of whom noted the irony of a first-generation American being featured in a deportation video without consent. While Von has not publicly commented further, his experience has reignited discussion about how government agencies use media personalities in public campaigns.
The White House did not respond to inquiries about the DHS video or whether efforts were underway to remove it from official social media channels.
