In a curious turn of events, a meme featuring JRR Tolkien’s beloved hobbit characters Merry and Pippin has found its way into the realm of U.S. government communication. On October 30, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shared a meme that depicted a pivotal moment from Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of The Two Towers. In this scene, Merry, the more experienced hobbit, urges his friend Pippin to stay and fight against the dark forces of Saruman rather than retreating to the comfort of their homeland, the Shire.
The caption beneath Merry’s dire warning, “There won’t be a Shire, Pippin,” was paired with the phrase “JOIN.ICE.GOV.” This unexpected crossover between Tolkien’s fantastical world and U.S. immigration policies has sparked a deluge of memes and discussions, revealing a troubling trend. It highlights how elements of Tolkien’s narrative have been co-opted by the New Right and figures within Silicon Valley, including prominent names like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel.
As the meme circulated, it drew attention to the broader social and political implications of using Tolkien’s imagery to promote anti-immigration sentiments. This trend is particularly noteworthy given that figures like Musk and Thiel have leveraged Tolkien’s themes of good versus evil to bolster their agendas. Thiel, for instance, has named his surveillance company ‘Palantir’ after the magical seeing stones in Tolkien’s universe, suggesting an alignment of his corporate interests with the themes of surveillance and power seen in the author’s works.
However, this appropriation raises an important question: Are these interpretations of Tolkien’s work accurate, or are they a fundamental misreading of his intent? Many scholars and fans of Tolkien argue that the author’s writings were steeped in a rich moral framework that championed inclusivity, friendship, and the fight against tyranny. Tolkien himself was known for his disdain towards totalitarianism and any form of oppression, a stark contrast to the rhetoric being employed by contemporary figures who invoke his name.
Moreover, the use of such memes in serious political discourse reflects a deeper disconnect between the original themes of Tolkien’s narratives and their current applications. The beauty of The Lord of the Rings lies not solely in the epic battles of good versus evil but also in the profound relationships and the emphasis on community, resilience, and the importance of defending one’s home and heritage against oppression. The push by entities like DHS to use these themes to support exclusionary policies stands in stark opposition to what Tolkien envisioned.
As the debate continues, it becomes increasingly vital for fans and scholars to reclaim Tolkien’s legacy from those who wish to manipulate it for their own agendas. The uniqueness of Tolkien’s work lies in its ability to transcend narrow political ideologies, promoting a message that is universally about the triumph of friendship and courage over darkness and division. In a world where rhetoric can easily be weaponized, understanding the true essence of Tolkien’s stories is more important than ever.
