Oh, dear, the White House has really outdone itself this time, hasn’t it? On February 18, 2025, they decided to spice up their social media game by dropping a little video gem titled “ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight”—because nothing screams “relaxing tingles” like the sound of shackles clanking on a Seattle tarmac. Picture this: immigrants in handcuffs and chains, trudging toward a deportation plane, all set to the soothing soundtrack of metal restraints being laid out like some twisted ASMR YouTuber’s dream project. The Trump administration, clearly in a mood to flex, posted this 41-second masterpiece to X, and it’s as if they said, “Let’s make mass deportations a vibe.”
The footage itself? Straight out of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) highlight reel, originally shared by their Seattle office with a bland “REMOVAL FLIGHT” caption—because apparently, “undocumented aliens” being flown out is just another Tuesday. But the White House couldn’t leave well enough alone. They remixed it, kicking things off with a dramatic shot of an officer fussing with a shackled migrant’s collar—moved from the end of ICE’s version to the front, just to set the tone. You’ve got close-ups of cuffs being linked, chained feet shuffling up plane stairs, and a faceless figure boarding the aircraft, all underscored by that oh-so-therapeutic jingle of restraints. It’s less “whispering sweet nothings” and more “rattling chains of policy,” but who’s counting?
This isn’t just some random intern’s prank, mind you. President Donald Trump’s second term has been all about cracking down on undocumented immigrants with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, and this video is the cherry on top. Federal agencies have been rounding folks up since he took office on January 20, and Trump’s always had a soft spot for a good dramatic flex—whether it’s a video or a fiery post about crushing his enemies. The White House first retweeted ICE’s clip at 12:19 p.m. ET, no notes, just vibes. Then, 90 minutes later, they hit us with the ASMR edit, and Elon Musk—Trump’s federal workforce-slashing sidekick and X’s overlord—was on it in six minutes flat, cackling “Haha Wow” like a kid who just found a new toy. By 4 p.m., the post had racked up 6.4 million interactions, because of course it did.
The internet, predictably, lost its collective mind. Some folks were all in, cheering “Keep it up! Love this!” and “Send them all back!” like it’s a rally cry for the ages. Others weren’t so thrilled, calling it “disgusting” and “cruel and dehumanizing”—one user even gave a begrudging nod to JD Vance’s economic arguments against illegal immigration but drew the line at turning suffering into a meme. The video’s got everything: cuffs clinking, chains dragging, and a hefty dose of Trumpian enthusiasm for sticking it to the out crowd. It’s not just a policy update; it’s a statement, a middle finger, and a weirdly edited flex all rolled into one.
So here we are, watching the White House turn deportation into performance art, complete with a soundtrack that’s equal parts unsettling and absurd. Whether you’re tingling with delight or recoiling in horror, one thing’s clear: this is Trump’s America, and they’re not just enforcing borders—they’re making sure you hear every last rattle of the chains.
**Links and References:**
- Original article: [CNBC - White House posts video of immigrants in shackles, calls deportation footage ‘ASMR’](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/18/white-house-posts-video-of-immigrants-in-shackles-calls-deportation-footage-asmr.html)
- White House X Post: [ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight](https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/123456789) (Note: Hypothetical link as exact
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