Pokémon rebukes White House’s use of its IP in a social media post

March 6, 2026 - 23:23

The Pokémon Company has issued a formal statement clarifying that it did not authorize the use of its intellectual property in a recent social media post from the White House. The post in question featured an image closely replicating the official cover art for the newly announced Nintendo game, Pokémon Pokopia, but overlaid with the political slogan "make america great again."

In its response, the company explicitly stated it did not grant permission for this use and has no affiliation with the political message conveyed. The statement emphasized that the Pokémon brand and its characters are intended to bring people together through entertainment, implicitly distancing the global franchise from partisan political discourse.

This incident highlights the ongoing tension between popular culture icons and political campaigns, which often seek to leverage recognizable imagery to connect with broader audiences. Legal experts note that while political speech may have some protections under fair use doctrines, using a trademarked character for endorsement without permission can create legal and brand reputation risks. The swift disavowal from The Pokémon Company underscores its vigilance in protecting its brand identity from unauthorized associations. The White House has not yet commented on the company's statement regarding the altered promotional artwork.