When Satoshi Tajiri created Pokémon, he imagined it as a way for kids to connect. The original games, released in Japan in February 1996, required a physical Game Boy link cable to trade creatures, turning strangers into trainers and playgrounds into real-life Pokémon Gyms.

The Trump Administration used references to the popular game to promote its immigration enforcement agenda on social media.

A Pokemon Pokopia meme promoting the MAGA agenda draws an official response from the publisher, seeming eager to protect the IP rights.