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3w ago

DHS Defends 1872 ‘American Progress’ Post Despite Manifest Destiny Backlash

The agency maintains the painting celebrates American heritage, declining to elaborate on concerns over its colonial narrative.

Screenshot of the DHS and the White House's Instagram account showing the painting American Progress by John Gast with the caption “A Heritage to be proud of, a Homeland worth Defending.”
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Overview

  • The Department of Homeland Security shared John Gast’s 1872 painting “American Progress” on its social media with the caption “A Heritage to be proud of, a Homeland worth Defending.”
  • Elon Musk’s AI bot Grok and online observers flagged alleged white supremacist numerology and coded messaging in the image.
  • Critics including Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office accused the post of promoting a narrow, predominantly white view of U.S. history.
  • DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the move as an unapologetic tribute to American history and offered critics a “history textbook” lesson.
  • Art historians such as Rice University’s Leo Costello warn the painting’s Manifest Destiny theme overlooks forced Native American removal and colonial violence.