A Pikachu character walks through a tunnel after posing for pictures with fans during the in-person Pokemon GO Tour: Kalos Los Angeles 2026 event at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif., on Feb. 20, 2026. Credit - Patrick T. Fallon—AFP/Getty Images
Pokémon is at odds with the White House for the second time in months.
On Thursday, the White Housepostedan image with the words "make america great again" designed to imitate Pokémon's game Pokémon Pokopia, which was released this week. Fans havemade postsusing the game's font to write comical phrases. In the background of the image, which appears to have been taken directly from the game, iconic characters like Pikachu and Magikarp can be seen.
The post prompted a response from Pokémon Company International, which is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Pokémon.
"We are aware of recent social content that includes imagery associated with our brand," Sravanthi Dev, a company spokeswoman, said in a statement to media outlets. "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 Pokémon Company International and the White House for comment.
It's the second time that Pokémon has had to put out a statement distancing itself from the Trump Administration's use of its intellectual property. Last September, the Department of Homeland Securityposteda video seeking to recruit Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that used Pokémon's slogan "Gotta catch 'em all" and scenes from Pokémon's anime series alongside clips of Border Patrol and ICE agents arresting people.
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In anotherpostthe same day, Customs and Border Protection said "Border Patrol's newest recruit" alongside 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 said in astatementat 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."
Frustration has mounted towards DHS and other government agencies over the Trump Administration'saggressive immigration crackdown. Kristi Noem, who has been scrutinized for her oversight of the department'shandling of immigration enforcement, wasremoved as Homeland Security Secretaryon Thursday.
The Trump Administration has also used the intellectual property of other video games includingMinecraft,Halo,Stardew Valley, and most recentlyCall of Dutyto boost their policies, particularly related to immigration and foreign policy. None of the companies that own those video games have publicly commented on the White House's posts.
Trump hassought favor among the gamer communityfor years in his efforts to court young male voters. But, as with manyartists whose music has been appropriatedby the Administration, the White House has faced pushback, including from video game fans as well assome developers, over its use of gaming memes and references to promote its policies.
Some havecalled forPokémon to sue the Trump Administration over its use of its intellectual property, although there has so far been no indication of a legal challenge.
"Nowhere in the Constitution does it say we can't post banger memes," the White House's X accountpostedin July in response to broad criticisms of its social media strategy.
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