LOADINGERROR LOADING
Social media users urged Nintendo to sue the Trump administration this week after the Department of Homeland Security posted a video to social media using the Pokémon TV show’s opening sequence and theme song to promote Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Spliced between snippets of the classic ’90s cartoon were videos of ICE agents using a flash-bang to enter a building, leading men with blurred-out faces away in handcuffs and donning tactical gear.
Advertisement
“Gotta Catch ’Em All,” DHS captioned the video, in reference to the beloved game’s tagline.
ICE has been running a recruitment campaign since receiving a huge funding boost over the summer.
Given that The Pokémon Company is owned by Nintendo, which regularly files intellectual property suits, fans of Pokémon and opponents of President Donald Trump’s extremist immigration rhetoric predicted an impending lawsuit, tagging the gaming giant in their posts.
(Fans also pointed out that the purpose of catching Pokémon in the game is to befriend them and help them grow, not send them away.)
Nintendo directed HuffPost to The Pokémon Company for comment. A spokesperson did not reveal whether the company was considering taking action against the Trump administration, but confirmed that its leadership has viewed the video.
Advertisement
“We are aware of a recent video posted by the Department of Homeland Security that includes imagery and language associated with our brand,” the company said in a brief emailed statement.
It noted, “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.”
Don McGowan, a former chief legal officer for The Pokémon Company, told the gaming news site IGN that he did not think a lawsuit was likely due to concerns about potential retaliation and a desire to avoid negative publicity.
Advertisement
“They are INSANELY publicity-shy and prefer to let the brand be the brand,” McGowan told the outlet.
“Second, many of their execs in the USA are on green cards,” he said. “Even if I was still at the company I wouldn’t touch this, and I’m the most trigger-happy CLO I’ve ever met. This will blow over in a couple of days and they’ll be happy to let it.”
TruthSavesLives
Your SupportFuelsOur Mission
Your SupportFuelsOur Mission
Dangerous myths about medicine spread fastest when watchdogs are silenced. Become a member today and help us safeguard science, protect health, and keep the public informed.
We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves.
Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever. We hope you will join us once again.
We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves.
Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever. We hope you will join us once again.
Support HuffPost
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
Trump has been open about using the machinations of the federal government to threaten his political enemies or anyone who opposes his administration’s actions, with people who are not U.S. citizens being among the most vulnerable to his attacks.
Advertisement