Credit: Pixabay
A viral White House TikTok mixes ICE arrest footage with the iconic Pokémon theme song and leaves the internet divided
The internet is no stranger to strange mashups, but the latest one comes straight from the official White House TikTok account—and let’s just say, it’s raising eyebrows. On September 22, the account dropped a video that pairs real-life ICE arrest footage with the beloved Pokémon anime theme song. Yes, you read that right.
The clip stitches together Homeland Security footage of arrests with iconic visuals from the original Pokémon series—Ash Ketchum, a Poké Ball soaring through the air, and that unforgettable “Gotta catch ’em all” vibe. To top it off, the video wraps with digital “Pokémon cards” displaying the arrested individuals alongside alleged charges.
As you might expect, reactions have been anything but calm. The TikTok racked up over 98,000 likes and 108,000 shares within hours, but the comment section reads like a tug-of-war between outrage and applause. Some viewers blasted the video as tasteless, with one top comment urging Nintendo to sue for unauthorized use of the theme song. Another called the clip “a despicable attempt at leadership.” Yet others praised the creativity, joking that whoever manages the White House’s TikTok deserves a raise. One fan even chimed in: “This is exactly what I voted for.”
@whitehouse Gotta catch ‘em all 🎥: DHS
The situation has sparked broader conversations too. The Trump administration has had a complicated history with both TikTok and gaming culture. Video games have been blamed for societal issues like violence, and TikTok itself has repeatedly faced the threat of being banned in the U.S. At the same time, the platform remains one of the biggest arenas for digital communication—especially with younger audiences.
Meanwhile, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have stayed silent about their iconic song being woven into political messaging. Considering how closely the Pokémon brand guards its image, it’ll be interesting to see if they take action—or simply let this strange cultural crossover fade into internet history.
For now, the video stands as one of the more unusual political TikTok moments, sparking debates that are equal parts serious and surreal. After all, who could have predicted that Ash Ketchum and ICE agents would ever end up in the same montage?
