Trump holds cabinet meeting with Game of Thrones-style 'sanctions are coming' poster on desk

The poster reads plays on well-known phrase from series and was used when president tweeted about sanctions against Iran

(MSNBC / Twitter)

Donald Trump has held a cabinet meeting in the White House with a Game of Thrones-style poster about sanctions against Iran on the table in front of him.

The poster in the photo looks like photo Mr Trump tweeted in November 2018 that references the popular HBO television show Game of Thrones when announcing his plans to reinstate sanctions against Tehran.

The image was a montage of the president himself with the words "Sanctions are coming,” a direct reference to the show’s House Stark famous motto “winter is coming.”

The font in Mr Trump’s image is similar to the ones used for Game of Thrones’ promotional materials. The photo also included “November 5” as the date where anti-Iran sanctions will be reinstated.

The initial tweet prompted a critical response from the HBO network. In a statement, the network said: “We were not aware of this messaging and would prefer our trademark not be misappropriated for political purposes.”

The network’s Twitter account then replied to Mr Trump’s tweet by asking: “How do you say trademark misuse in Dothraki?”

The Game of Thrones-esque poster was Mr Trump’s method of drawing attention to his administration’s plans to place more than 700 sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities, including its national oil company.

The president’s aim is to strangle the Iran’s economy and force the Iranian government to participate in new negotiations over its ballistic missile programme.