The Pokémon Company has once again found itself at odds with the Trump administration after the official White House social media account posted a meme based on the newly released Pokémon Pokopia, replacing the game’s title with the slogan “Make America Great Again.” The post, shared on X on March 5, quickly went viral, amassing over 18 million views and reigniting a familiar debate about the unauthorized use of beloved gaming franchises for political purposes.
In response, The Pokémon Company issued a firm statement distancing itself from the post. “We are aware of recent social content that includes imagery associated with our brand,” a spokesperson told The New York Times. “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.”
This is not the first time the franchise has been dragged into the political arena. Back in September 2025, the Department of Homeland Security used footage of iconic Pokémon character Ash Ketchum and the show’s theme song in a video depicting law enforcement arrests, prompting a nearly identical rebuke from The Pokémon Company. The pattern suggests a deliberate strategy by the administration’s social media team to capitalize on the cultural cachet of major entertainment properties, regardless of whether permission has been granted.
Despite growing calls from fans urging The Pokémon Company to take legal action, experts believe a lawsuit remains unlikely. As IGN reported, the company’s former chief legal officer Don McGowan explained that the notoriously publicity-shy corporation would prefer to let the controversy fade rather than engage in a high-profile legal battle with the federal government — particularly given that many of its U.S.-based executives hold green cards.
The Pokopia incident is part of a broader trend of the White House appropriating video game content for political messaging. As Eurogamer noted, just days earlier the administration’s social media team used footage from Call of Duty in a video that blended in-game kill streak mechanics with real-world military bombing imagery, drawing criticism from industry figures including Infinity Ward co-founder Chance Glasco.
As Pokémon Pokopia continues its launch on the Nintendo Switch 2, the controversy has cast an unwelcome shadow over what should be a celebratory moment for the franchise. While the meme format itself has been embraced by countless fans online who have swapped in their own humorous text, the White House’s political adaptation crosses a line that intellectual property holders are increasingly unwilling to accept in silence — even if they stop short of taking it to court.