Pokémon Challenges the White House Over Unauthorized Use of Intellectual Property
For the second time in recent months, Pokémon has found itself at odds with the White House.
On Thursday, the White House shared an image featuring the slogan “make america great again,” styled to mimic the aesthetic of the newly released game, Pokémon Pokopia. Fans have been utilizing the game’s signature font to create humorous captions. The image, which appears to be a direct capture from the game, prominently features iconic characters such as Pikachu and Magikarp.
The post drew a response from Pokémon Company International, which is currently marking the franchise’s 30th anniversary.
“We are aware of recent social content that includes imagery associated with our brand,” stated company spokeswoman Sravanthi Dev. “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.”
TIME has reached out to both Pokémon Company International and the White House for comment.
This marks the second instance in which Pokémon has had to issue a statement distancing itself from the Trump Administration’s unauthorized use of its intellectual property. Last September, the Department of Homeland Security released a recruitment video for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that incorporated the Pokémon slogan “Gotta catch ‘em all” alongside footage from the Pokémon anime series, interspersed with clips of Border Patrol and ICE agents conducting arrests.
In a separate post that same day, Customs and Border Protection referred to “Border Patrol’s newest recruit” while sharing a GIF of Detective Pikachu.
“We are aware of a recent video posted by the Department of Homeland Security that includes imagery and language associated with our brand,” Pokémon Company International noted in a statement at the time. “Our company was not involved in the creation or distribution of this content, and permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property.”
Tensions have risen regarding the DHS and other government agencies due to the Trump Administration’s social media tactics. Kristi Noem, who has faced scrutiny over her oversight of the department, was mentioned on Thursday.
The Trump Administration has also leveraged the intellectual property of other video games—including various titles—to promote its policies, particularly concerning immigration and foreign affairs. None of the companies owning those games have issued public comments regarding the White House’s posts.
Trump has spent years attempting to appeal to young male voters. However, as with many strategies employed by the Administration, the White House has encountered pushback from video game fans and others regarding its use of gaming memes and references to advance its political agenda.
Some have called for Pokémon to initiate legal action against the Trump Administration for its use of their intellectual property, though there is currently no sign of a pending lawsuit.
“Nowhere in the Constitution does it say we can’t post banger memes,” the White House’s X account stated in July, responding to widespread criticism of its social media strategy.