1. When the CIA Joined Twitter and Immediately Got Weird
In 2014, the CIA launched its official Twitter account with the tweet: “We can neither confirm nor deny that this is our first tweet.” It was meant to be playful and mysterious, but instead it came off like a dad trying to make a meme. People were understandably unsettled that an agency known for covert operations was now dropping zingers on the timeline. It also kicked off a trend where the agency tweeted movie references and puns, which didn’t sit well with those concerned about drone strikes and surveillance.
The whole vibe was confusing: are we joking, or are we spying? This attempt at transparency through humor clashed hard with the CIA’s serious, often controversial history. It raised questions about whether intelligence agencies should even be on social media. And it made a lot of people wonder if the world’s weirdest dystopia had officially begun.
2. That Time the NSA Tried to Be Relatable with a Hashtag
In 2014, not long after Edward Snowden’s revelations about mass surveillance, the NSA launched a campaign called #MissionMonday to promote its recruitment efforts. Yes—while people were still digesting that the government could be reading their emails, the NSA was tweeting feel-good messages like “Do you want to make a difference? Join us!” It felt like a college club trying to rebrand after a scandal. Except this club had access to your phone records.
The mismatch between tone and context was hard to ignore. People joked that the NSA was subtweeting America with a wink and a wiretap. The tweets backfired and drew attention to the exact issues the agency was trying to gloss over. Instead of recruiting talent, it mostly recruited memes.
3. When the CDC Tried to Prepare Us for a Zombie Apocalypse
In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a blog post called “Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse.” The idea was to use the zombie trope to get people thinking about real emergency kits and disaster planning. On paper, it was clever—pop culture meets public health. But in reality, it left a lot of people wondering if the CDC had lost its mind.
Some readers thought it was a joke, others thought it was a real warning. The CDC had to clarify they weren’t actually expecting zombies, which, honestly, didn’t help much. It was a weird moment where science met sci-fi and the tone didn’t quite land. In hindsight, it’s especially eerie considering how the CDC communicated during COVID-19.
4. When the White House Made a Snapchat Account
Back in 2016, the Obama administration launched an official White House Snapchat. The goal was to reach younger audiences by speaking their language—filters, emojis, behind-the-scenes footage. But watching the Commander-in-Chief’s office attempt to be hip with dog ears and sparkles was… a little much. It felt like your grandpa discovered Bitmoji and didn’t know when to stop.
While some found it charming, others thought it diminished the seriousness of the presidency. It was part of a larger trend where political institutions began treating governance like content. People weren’t sure if they were supposed to be informed or entertained. And it gave new meaning to the term “executive filter.”
5. When the Army Tried to Go Viral with “What’s Your Warrior?”
In 2019, the U.S. Army launched the “What’s Your Warrior?” campaign to appeal to Gen Z. The ads were flashy and stylized, full of anime-esque graphics and video-game vibes. The goal was to show that the Army had careers beyond combat—cyber warfare, engineering, tech. But the execution made it look like a Fortnite skin pack with military benefits.
The response online was swift and skeptical. Teens dunked on it with memes, pointing out that war isn’t a game. Others felt the campaign trivialized serious consequences of military service. And once again, the line between recruitment and propaganda got uncomfortably blurry.
6. When the TSA Made an Instagram and Got Way Too Casual
The TSA’s Instagram account has gained a weird kind of fame for posting photos of confiscated items—everything from throwing stars to snakes in luggage. The captions are full of puns and dad jokes, like “That’s not how you scale up your travel game.” It’s clearly meant to be lighthearted and engaging. But it’s still an agency responsible for airport security, not a meme page.
The tone can be especially jarring when you remember the TSA’s controversies over privacy and profiling. It creates this strange dissonance: Are we laughing at nunchucks or worried about civil liberties? The attempt to be relatable ends up undermining the seriousness of the job. It’s like your parole officer suddenly started posting TikToks.
7. When FEMA Used Emojis to Warn About Natural Disasters
In 2017, FEMA launched an emoji-based emergency preparedness campaign. Tweets included strings of icons—like a flashlight, water droplet, and storm cloud—to get the message across. It was part of an effort to reach younger audiences through visual communication. But some felt it oversimplified issues that require clear and direct information.
When you’re dealing with hurricanes or wildfires, maybe emojis aren’t the best tool. There was also concern that the messaging could be misunderstood or ignored entirely. In trying to be trendy, FEMA seemed to lose a bit of the gravitas their job demands. Disasters aren’t exactly 💅.
8. When the FBI Live-Tweeted a Martin Luther King Jr. Event
In 2018, the FBI tweeted a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. on the anniversary of his death. They wrote about honoring his legacy of justice, peace, and equality. But given the FBI’s own history of surveilling and harassing King, it struck many as tone-deaf. The tweet quickly went viral—for all the wrong reasons.
People called it out as performative, hypocritical, and frankly insulting. The backlash highlighted how trying to be socially conscious without accountability can backfire hard. It was an example of the government trying to join a conversation without acknowledging its past role. Trendy tweets can’t erase real history.
9. When the Department of Energy Made a “Hamilton”-Inspired Music Video
In 2016, staff at the Department of Energy produced a parody of the musical Hamilton called “Science-y Guys.” It was meant to promote STEM careers and featured rapping employees in lab coats. While the effort was earnest and the rhymes were clever, it came off as cringey and deeply awkward. It was hard to watch without secondhand embarrassment.
The video made the rounds online—but not the way they hoped. Critics questioned if taxpayer money should’ve been spent on off-key karaoke. It also fed into the stereotype that the government is out of touch with actual youth culture. “Hamilton” was cool, but not that cool.
10. When ICE Made a Video Game-Style Recruitment Ad
In 2019, Immigration and Customs Enforcement released a recruitment video styled like a first-person shooter game. It featured agents storming buildings in tactical gear, with dramatic music and heavy editing. The video was clearly trying to appeal to gamers and action movie fans. But it left many viewers disturbed rather than impressed.
The gamification of law enforcement raised serious ethical concerns. Critics said it glorified violence and dehumanized the people ICE was targeting. For an agency already under scrutiny, this wasn’t the moment for cinematic flair. It looked less like a PSA and more like a dystopian trailer.
11. When the State Department Posted a “Hot Takes” Meme
In 2020, the State Department tweeted a meme comparing hot takes about democracy to frozen takes, implying only the U.S. had the “correct” take. It was part of a broader push for digital diplomacy, trying to use meme culture to promote American ideals abroad. But instead of influencing hearts and minds, it just confused and alienated people. It felt like someone’s intern had gone rogue on Canva.
The tweet was widely mocked for being tone-deaf and unintelligible. International relations don’t usually benefit from meme wars. It trivialized complex geopolitical issues by treating them like Twitter drama. And it made diplomacy look like a group chat gone off the rails.
12. When the Pentagon Teased “UFO” Disclosures Like a Movie Trailer
In 2021, the Pentagon confirmed the existence of unidentified aerial phenomena with footage that had already leaked. Instead of a sober press release, the rollout was hyped up in the media like a sci-fi blockbuster. The vibe was less “national security” and more “summer premiere.” People weren’t sure if they should be scared or amused.
The weird, theatrical tone didn’t help calm nerves. It felt like the government was leaning into the spectacle, rather than offering clarity. When alien footage drops with zero follow-up, it tends to raise more questions than it answers. Especially when it’s accompanied by moody camera angles and vague narration.
13. When the White House Made TikToks About Inflation
In 2022, the Biden administration enlisted TikTok influencers to explain inflation and gas prices. The goal was to reach younger voters using a medium they trusted. But the optics of teens dancing while discussing economic hardship didn’t exactly land. It felt like trying to put a ring light on a dumpster fire.
Critics saw it as an unserious approach to a serious issue. Others questioned whether influencers were being used to deflect blame. The tone mismatch made the entire effort feel disingenuous. And let’s be honest: no one wants a vibes-based explanation for why eggs cost seven dollars.
This post 13 Times the Government Tried to Be Trendy and Just Made Everyone Nervous was first published on American Charm.
