Art imitates life with a KKK endorsement subplot in the new season of House of Cards

The fourth season of Netflix's House of Cards dropped after the Republican debate last night, and viewers were quick to notice a subplot with striking relevance to recent events.

In the third episode of the new run, President Frank Underwood is embarrassed by a defaced billboard on primary day in his home state of South Carolina. The sign is a giant photo of Underwood's father posing with a man in a white Ku Klux Klan hood. As is his wont, Underwood spins a tale to kill the story, claiming his father was forced to pose for the picture against his will.

The episode is reminiscent of Donald Trump's recent entanglement with the Klan. Trump failed to promptly condemn the organization and its former grand wizard, David Duke, who said that voting against Trump would be "treason to [whites'] heritage." Even more similarly, in 1927, Trump's father was arrested following a KKK riot "on a charge of refusing to disperse from a parade when ordered to do so."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up