White House Uses Zelda Parody Video to Troll Trump
PUBLISHED Sep 9, 2026, 9:27 AM ET
The official White House social media accounts published a retro 3D video parody inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on September nine, depicting Donald Trump inside a blocky virtual Oval Office. The post arrived hours after Nintendo held a dedicated Direct presentation showcasing an Ocarina of Time remake. The parody accumulated over ten thousand reposts, sparking intense online debate regarding copyright infringement and political messaging. Critics and social media users noted similarities to previous unauthorized gaming parodies published by the administration, including a Tetris-themed post that was removed following intervention from The Tetris Company. Legal analysts highlighted potential trademark and copyright tensions surrounding the commercial use of protected intellectual property for political campaigning. Representatives from Nintendo and the White House have not issued formal statements regarding potential legal challenges or copyright notices stemming from the newly released video asset.
By Emily Rhodes | JQJO News
- Articles Published:
- 24
- Right Leaning:
- 3
- Left Leaning:
- 5
- Neutral:
- 16
- Distribution:
- Left 21%, Center 67%, Right 13%
Left: Highlighted potential copyright violations and questioned official government asset usage. Center: Reported the social media post timing alongside public and corporate reactions. Right: Emphasized the administration's digital strategy and engagement with internet meme culture.
White House social media accounts published a video game parody on September 9, 2026. https://apnews.com/article/white-house-zelda-parody-video-trump-nintendo
Coverage of Story:
From Left
White House Trolls With Zelda Video as Nintendo Unveils Remake
New York Times HuffPost Polygon Gizmodo The IndependentFrom Center
White House publishes video game parody on social media
Associated Press Reuters Politico The Hill Washington Post ABC News USA Today Wall Street Journal Chicago Tribune Axios Bloomberg Forbes Time Newsweek GameSpot NPRFrom Right
White House Social Media Team Shares Zelda Video Game Parody
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