Pokémon has voiced strong objections against the White House following the appearance of an artwork that closely mimicked the visual style of Nintendo’s recently launched game, Pokopia. The graphic, which surfaced on Thursday—the same day as the game’s official release—featured a colorful design and included the phrase “make America great again” rendered in a font strikingly similar to that used in Pokopia’s branding. This image quickly gained traction across social media platforms, where it was widely shared and discussed.
It is important to highlight that the artwork appeared to be generated by artificial intelligence, crafted to resemble the cover art of the life-simulation game. Despite its popularity online, Pokémon’s representatives made it clear that the company had no involvement in the creation or distribution of this image. A spokesperson for Pokémon emphasized that the use of their intellectual property was unauthorized, stating, “We were not involved in its creation or distribution, and no permission was granted for the use of our intellectual property.” This statement underlines the company’s commitment to protecting its brand and creative assets from misuse.
Moreover, the spokesperson reiterated Pokémon’s core mission of fostering unity and bringing people together, distancing the brand from any political affiliations or agendas. This clarification came amid concerns that the image’s political slogan could mislead audiences into associating Pokémon with a particular political message. While the organization did not specify whether it intends to pursue legal action, the incident raises broader questions about the unauthorized use of copyrighted material in political contexts.
The use of popular culture references and internet memes by government entities has become increasingly common, especially during President Donald Trump’s second term. Official social media accounts have frequently adopted trending formats to engage with the public. However, this strategy has occasionally backfired, drawing criticism for appropriating branded content without obtaining the necessary permissions. This latest controversy involving Pokémon is not an isolated case.
In fact, Pokémon has previously responded to similar situations. In September, the company addressed an incident where the Department of Homeland Security released a video featuring Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests interspersed with clips from Pokémon, all set to the iconic anime theme song “Gotta Catch ‘Em All!”. This use of Pokémon’s content in a politically charged video sparked backlash and prompted the company to clarify its position.
Other recent posts from official government accounts have also stirred debate. For instance, in March, an AI-generated image styled after the renowned Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli depicted a woman in handcuffs crying while being deported by immigration officials. Earlier in the same week as the Pokopia incident, a video circulated combining footage of missile strikes in Iran with scenes from the popular video game franchise Call of Duty. Microsoft, which owns Activision—the publisher of Call of Duty—chose not to comment on this particular post.
Beyond gaming and animation, several musicians and public figures have expressed their disapproval of their work being used in government messaging without consent. Notable artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, and Zara Larsson have publicly objected to the unauthorized incorporation of their music and images in official communications. These recurring issues highlight ongoing tensions between creative industries and government entities over intellectual property rights and ethical use of content.
