Why the Pokémon company objected to a White House MAGA meme

Why the Pokémon company objected to a White House MAGA meme

The Pokémon Company International has objected to the Trump administration’s use of its characters in a political meme posted by the White House, saying the US government did not have permission to use the company’s intellectual property, the New York Times reported.

The post, shared on the White House’s official social media account on Thursday, featured imagery from the newly released game Pokémon Pokopia alongside the slogan “Make America Great Again.” The image included well-known characters from the franchise, such as Pikachu and Magikarp.

Company says it did not authorise the use

In a statement, the company said it had no role in creating or distributing the content and had not authorised the use of its brand.

“We are aware of recent social content that includes imagery associated with our brand,” said Sravanthi Dev, a spokesperson for the Pokémon Company International. “We were not involved in its creation or distribution, and no permission was granted for the use of our intellectual property. Our mission is to bring the world together, and that mission is not affiliated with any political viewpoint or agenda.”

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, administration officials have previously defended their social media strategy, saying that meme-style posts help communicate the president’s agenda in a format that resonates with online audiences.

Second dispute between the company and the administration

This is the second time the Pokémon Company has publicly distanced itself from the administration’s use of its material.

In September, the company issued a similar clarification after the Department of Homeland Security released a video that used the franchise’s well-known slogan “Gotta catch ’em all” alongside footage of Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents carrying out arrests.

The latest post appeared soon after the release of Pokémon Pokopia, a spin-off title launched earlier this week.

Video game imagery increasingly used in political posts

Despite objections from parts of the gaming industry, the Trump administration has continued to incorporate imagery and references from popular video games into its online messaging.

In recent months, the White House has shared memes referencing well-known gaming franchises including Halo, Minecraft and Stardew Valley.

On Wednesday, the administration also posted a video that combined footage from its bombing operations in Iran with scenes resembling gameplay from the Call of Duty franchise, underscoring how gaming imagery is increasingly being used in political communication online.