White House Turns Kentucky Derby Win by 'Sovereignty' into Political Symbolism Over 'Journalism'

The Kentucky Derby wasn’t just about big hats and fast horses this year—it somehow became a political metaphor, too. On Saturday, a horse named Sovereignty pulled off a dramatic upset, surging past the favorite, Journalism, right at the final turn and clinching victory. If you’re looking for symbolism, you don’t have to squint too hard.

White House officials wasted no time celebrating on social media. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth chimed in with, “Sovereignty > Journalism. On the track. And in 2025 America.” Subtle as a sledgehammer, but you can’t fault the man for commitment to his theme.

Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff, joined in by declaring, “In the Trump Administration, sovereignty will ALWAYS win.” If only policy debates were decided by horse races, we’d all have a lot more fun on weekends.

Even outside the administration, some journalists saw the Derby outcome as a “powerful omen.” It’s not every day a horse race gets spun into a future-of-America prediction, but hey, 2025 is full of surprises.

The celebration arrives amid the Trump administration’s ongoing friction with the media. Hegseth, recently scrutinized for reportedly sharing details of a military airstrike in a private group chat, called the resulting controversy an effort to “sabotage” Trump’s agenda. He also accused the media of ignoring the real issues, like military victories and border security, in favor of juicy leaks and drama.

Meanwhile, Miller has been sparring with reporters, especially over coverage of violent gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. He accused some journalists of “shilling” for a deported MS-13 member and claimed the press only covered the tragic murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray after Trump himself shamed them into it.

All in all, the Derby became more than just a race—it turned into a full-blown political Rorschach test. In a year where even the horses are making headlines for their names, it’s clear that symbolism is running neck and neck with reality.