Pokémon rebukes White House’s use of its IP in a social media post
Pokémon Company International said it did not grant permission to the White House to post “social content that includes imagery associated with our brand” after the administration shared a “Make America Great Again” meme to social media Thursday that looks like the cover of Nintendo’s new game.
The image, shared to the White House’s official accounts, appears to be an AI-generated graphic in the style of Pokémon Pokopia, a life-simulation game that Nintendo launched Thursday. The text over the social post reads “make america great again” in Pokopia’s colorful signature font.
“We were not involved in its creation or distribution, and no permission was granted for the use of our intellectual property,” a spokesperson for the company said. “Our mission is to bring the world together, and that mission is not affiliated with any political viewpoint or agenda.”
The company did not say whether it plans to take legal action. A representative for the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Trump administration has shifted its tone on social media during President Donald Trump’s second term, with use of trending memes becoming common across official accounts.
But the White House has come under fire for using branded intellectual property for its political messaging online without permission.
In September, Pokémon Company International issued a similar statement to news outlets after the Department of Homeland Security posted a video compilation of Immigration and Custom Enforcement arrests, interspersed with clips from “Pokémon” and set to the anime show’s theme song, “Gotta Catch ‘Em All!”
In March, the White House stirred outrage online when it posted an AI-generated image in the style of Studio Ghibli — the iconic Japanese animation studio known for its warm, cozy art — of a woman, crying and in handcuffs, being deported by ICE.
Days after the U.S. entered war with Iran, the White House stirred shock and confusion this week when its social media accounts shared a video compilation mixing real video of missile strikes in Iran with video game clips from the popular first-person shooter franchise “Call of Duty.”
Microsoft, which owns the video game’s publisher, Activision, declined to comment on the matter Thursday.
A handful of celebrities have also publicly rebuked the U.S. government for using their work without permission.
After DHS used her song “All-American Bitch” to promote ICE in November, Olivia Rodrigo told the agency on social media, “don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.” Less than a month later, Sabrina Carpenter similarly called the White House’s use of her song “Juno” in a pro-ICE video “evil and disgusting.” And SZA accused the White House of “rage baiting artists for free promo” after it used her track “Big Boy” in a similar fashion.
Podcaster and comedian Theo Von, who interviewed Trump in 2024 and issued his support for him at his inauguration last year, urged DHS last year to take down a viral video clip of him saying, “Heard you got deported, dude, bye!”
“I know you know my address so send a check,” Von wrote on X. “And please take this down and please keep me out of your ‘banger’ deportation videos. When it comes to immigration my thoughts and heart are a lot more nuanced than this video allows. Bye!”
