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White House uses Zelda imagery in political post, despite previous condemnation from Pokémon Company
The White House has posted a video using imagery, music and visuals from Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, featuring a Trump-like character in the game. The post repeats the administration’s anti-migrant views and presents claimed achievements from Trump’s second term, renewing criticism of its use of video game material for political messaging.
The administration has faced objections over similar posts, including from figures associated with Halo and The Pokémon Company, which disavowed a political advert using Pokémon references. It removed a Tetris clone from its website after Tetris’s rights holder distanced itself and said it would enforce its copyright, but has continued using game imagery. Nintendo has not yet said whether it will respond to the Zelda post.
In short
- White House video uses Ocarina of Time imagery and music.
- The post combines anti-migrant messaging with claimed presidential achievements.
- Nintendo has not publicly responded to the use of Zelda material.
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The case for
Supporters may see the video as political expression that uses familiar pop-culture imagery to reach a broad audience and present the administration’s account of its record. They could argue that criticism should focus on the message itself, while any copyright concerns should be handled through the usual legal process.
The case against
Critics may argue that using recognisable game imagery and music for official political messaging risks implying an endorsement that the creators and rights holders have not given. Previous objections from game-related figures and rights holders strengthen concerns about respecting intellectual property and keeping cultural works from being drawn into partisan campaigns.
Explained simply
The White House has used popular video game imagery in posts promoting Donald Trump and his administration. The latest post draws on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a Nintendo game first released in 1998, and places a character resembling Trump in its world.
Nintendo owns the rights to Zelda, while The Pokémon Company and the rights holder for Tetris control the other game material cited in earlier disputes. Their responses to previous political uses have included publicly distancing themselves from the messages; the Tetris rights holder also said it would enforce its copyright.
The issue matters because game characters, music and artwork are protected creative works, and their use can suggest a link between a game and a political message. Whether a rights holder objects, and what action it takes, depends on the specific use and its response.