CNBC - HBO isn't happy that PresidentDonald Trumpused "Game of Thrones" imagery and language to promote sanctions against Iran.
An image of Trump posted Friday featured a text overlay reading "Sanctions are coming." The font of the text is a near-match of the style used in HBO's mega-popular fantasy television series. The text itself appears to imitate "Winter is coming," one of the show's most popular slogans.
Donald J. Trump
?@realDonaldTrump
In a statement to CNBC, HBO said, "We were not aware of this messaging and would prefer our trademark not be misappropriated for political purposes."
HBO's official Twitter account followed up soon after, asking, "How do you say trademark misuse in Dothraki?" referring to a fictional language used by one of the groups in the show.
HBO
?@HBO
How do you say trademark misuse in Dothraki?
Asked if HBO planned to take legal action, network spokesman Jeff Cusson told CNBC there were "no further steps."
The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on HBO's statement.
It was not immediately clear from Trump's tweet which sanctions he was referring to. But the White House's officialTwitteraccount appeared to clarify in a follow-up shortly after Trump's tweet that the image was intended to reference sanctions on Iran.
The White House
?@WhiteHouse
President @realDonaldTrump is reimposing all sanctions lifted under the unacceptable Iran deal. The U.S. is reimposing the toughest sanctions ever on Iran, targeting many of the corrupt regimes critical sectors.
The White House
?@WhiteHouse
The United States has launched a campaign of economic pressure to deny the regime the funds it needs to advance its bloody agenda!
Donald J. Trump
?@realDonaldTrump
Trump's tweet also noted that the sanctions were "coming" on Monday, Nov. 5, when the administration says it willreimpose all U.S. sanctions on Iranthat had been relaxed under the 2015 nuclear deal brokered during the Obama administration.
This isn't the first time Trump has run afoul of HBO's parent company, Time Warner. The president has repeatedly hammered news network CNN, and hisJustice Department opposedAT&T's acquisition of Time Warner, which wascleared by a federal judge in June.
Some stars of "Game of Thrones," which is set to air its eighth and final season in 2019, responded to Trump's allegedly unauthorized use of the show's likeness.
Maisie Williams, who portrays Arya Stark on the show, responded, "Not today."
Maisie Williams
?@Maisie_Williams
Not today.
Donald J. Trump
?@realDonaldTrump
Sophie Turner, who plays Arya's sister Sansa, was even more succinct: "Ew," she said.
While HBO objected to Trump's photo, the show's themes and catchphrases have often shown up in politics.
Business Insider reported that Trump's 2016 rival, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, compared herself to another character, Cersei Lannister, in her memoir, "What Happened."
"Crowds at Trump rallies called for my imprisonment more times than I can count," Clinton reportedly wrote. "They shouted 'Guilty! Guilty!' like the religious zealots in 'Game of Thrones' chanting 'Shame! Shame!' while Cersei Lannister walked back to the Red Keep."