At a Glance
- A clip from the 2007 documentary Encounters at the End of the World went viral, showing a lone penguin walking away from its colony.
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security shared the clip on X, praising it for its “snow and ice” themes.
- The clip was later linked to President Trump’s stated interest in Greenland and to the Doomsday Clock’s new 85-second setting.
Why it matters: The episode illustrates how government agencies are using viral wildlife footage to promote political agendas, raising concerns about misinformation and public trust.
—
A video clip from the 2007 documentary Encounters at the End of the World, directed by Werner Herzog, began circulating on social media earlier this month. The clip shows a lone penguin abandoning its peers to walk into the wilderness, a disturbing image that becomes more unsettling when the context is understood.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approved the clip for sharing on X last week, posting it with a caption that seemed to celebrate the penguin’s “snow and ice” connection to Greenland. The government’s enthusiasm appears to stem from President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he wants to take over Greenland, a claim that has alarmed European leaders and prompted them to deploy troops to protect the country.
The penguin video shared by DHS is edited to include footage of President Trump, Kristi Noem, Border Patrol, and ICE agents. Viewers also see unidentified agents storming homes, a scene that has been described as “fascist.” The narration accompanying the clip notes, “But one of them caught our eye, the one in the center. He would neither go towards the feeding grounds at the edge of the ice, nor return to the colony. Shortly afterwards, we saw him heading straight towards the mountains, some 70 kilometers away.”
Dr. Ainslie explains that even if the penguin were captured and returned to the colony, it would immediately head back for the mountains. The clip’s absurdity is amplified by the fact that Greenland does not host penguins, yet the Trump administration seems unaware of this geographic fact.
Werner Herzog posted an Instagram video a couple of days ago to discuss the clip’s viral spread. He said he was inspired by the narration from the 1980s TV show Unsolved Mysteries and that the most important part of the clip is the “insanity” in penguins that are “deranged.”
President Trump has also made the connection to Greenland in other posts, including an AI-generated image shared by the White House X account on January 23, 2026. The image shows a penguin and Trump holding hands, with the flag of Greenland in the background and the penguin holding an American flag as it approaches, a symbolic gesture of conquest.
> “Our current trajectory is unsustainable. National leaders-particularly those in the United States, Russia, and China-must take the lead in finding a path away from the brink. Citizens must insist they do so,” the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists wrote.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved its infamous “Doomsday Clock” to 85 seconds to midnight on Tuesday, the closest it has ever been to total annihilation. The clock is meant to draw attention to existential threats, and this year the group highlighted the modernization of nuclear delivery systems in the United States, Russia, and China, as well as Trump’s plan for the Golden Dome missile system. Climate change and the accelerating spread of misinformation through AI were also cited as potential catastrophes.
**Key Facts
- 2007: Original documentary Encounters at the End of the World released.
- January 24, 2026: DHS posted the penguin clip on X.
- January 23, 2026: White House X shared AI-generated penguin image.
- 85 seconds to midnight: New Doomsday Clock setting.
- 70 kilometers: Distance the penguin walked toward the mountains.
Government Response
- DHS’s approval of the clip was framed as an endorsement of the penguin’s “snow and ice” symbolism.
- The White House’s X post reinforced Trump’s interest in Greenland, using the penguin as a visual metaphor for conquest.
- The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists used the clip’s viral nature to highlight broader existential risks.
Public Perception
The clip’s spread has sparked debate about the appropriateness of using wildlife footage to advance political narratives. Some observers criticize the DHS for ignoring the factual inaccuracy that Greenland has no penguins, while others point out the broader trend of government agencies leveraging viral content for propaganda.
Takeaway
The penguin video episode underscores how easily misinformation can be amplified when government entities participate in viral social-media trends. It also highlights the urgent need for public scrutiny of how political messages are crafted and disseminated online.
—
Key Takeaways
- Viral wildlife footage can be repurposed for political messaging.
- Government agencies may lack fact-checking rigor when sharing content.
- The Doomsday Clock’s new setting reflects heightened concerns over nuclear weapons and AI-driven misinformation.
- Public engagement and critical analysis are essential to counteract misinformation.
