The White House has posted an AI-generated image on its official social media account featuring U.S. President Donald Trump walking alongside a penguin toward a Greenlandic flag with the caption “Embrace the penguin,” a cryptic message tied to Washington’s renewed emphasis on strategic engagement with Greenland.

The post, released as part of continued commentary on the Arctic territory’s significance, quickly garnered global attention and an outpouring of social media reaction.

The image draws on the viral “nihilist penguin” meme, which originated from a scene in a documentary showing a lone penguin seemingly wandering away from its colony, and reinterprets it with the president and symbolic flags.

Users around the world seized on the post, noting that penguins are native to the Southern Hemisphere and do not inhabit Greenland’s Arctic environment, leading to widespread mockery, fact checks and humorous responses online.

The Department of Defense’s rapid response account also amplified the message with its own variation, urging audiences to “Be a warrior, embrace the penguin.”

Commentators and meme creators used the moment to critique, parody and contextualise the image, with some highlighting the geographic inaccuracy and others connecting it to broader political debate over the United States’ interest in Arctic geopolitics.

The post followed heightened discussion around Greenland’s status after President Trump outlined possible frameworks for increased U.S. involvement in the region’s security and resource development.

While the White House did not formally clarify the intent behind the “Embrace the penguin” message, observers said the episode illustrates how digital culture and unconventional imagery are increasingly intertwined with geopolitical messaging.

The viral response underscored both the reach and the risks of using meme-driven communication in matters touching on international strategy.