White House's Rick and Morty AI parody featuring Donald Trump sparks huge backlash
“People can’t afford gas, groceries, rent, and healthcare,” wrote former congresswoman and once Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene in response to Rick and Morty parody video posted by the White House.
Published on 28/07/2026 - 11:07 GMT+2
An AI-generated video parodying the hit show Rick and Morty was posted on the White House’s official social media channel and has sparked backlash, with many pointing out its insensitivity to the current climate.
The now-viral clip is based on the opening sequence of the popular animated science-fiction sitcom created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland.
It sees Donald Trump and J.D. Vance piloting a flying saucer as they are chased by a winged demon, showing a space alien being arrested by border czar Tom Homan, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer removing his face to reveal he is a robot.
The clip ends with a glowing "MAGA" title.
The short clip is consistent with many posts by the White House and Trump, who attempt to harness trending memes, shows and movies to drive their brand.
Trump has heavily relied on AI-generated visuals and pop culture pilfering antics to ridicule his political adversaries and marginalised groups – something Kurt Sengul, a researcher at Macquarie University in Australia, ferred to as “memetic warfare” when speaking to Euronews Culture.
However, the timing of this recent video's release has led critics, including former congresswoman and former Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene, to slam the video as "tone-deaf", "unserious" and "pathetic" - especially at time when the US is at war with Iran and prices continue to rise.
“People can’t afford gas, groceries, rent, and healthcare and this is the weird embarrassing crap the official White House account is putting out,” wrote Marjorie Taylor Greene.
One social media user wrote: “I know it’s all become background noise but the official White House account posting an AI Rick and Morty parody just really feels like new lows in having no shame, abjectly pathetic and pure uncut Reddit at the same time - not to buy into norms but there used to be some dignity.”
Many are calling for the creators of Rick and Morty to sue, while commentator Harry Sisson added: “WTF…We just want health care and not whatever the hell this is.”
The bizarre post from the White House coincides with Dan Harmon admitting that aspects of Trump and his predecessor Barack Obama have inspired his new Rick and Morty spin-off cartoon, titled President Curtis.
The series follows President Andre Curtis from Rick and Morty, showing how he and his staff respond to interdimensional and paranormal crises.
Harmon told The Hollywood Reporter: “Curtis has a naïveté that you could overlap with Trump, who is like, ‘I’m an outsider, and I consider this job simple, and I don’t care about the bureaucracy of it.’ On the Obama side, it’s the charmer and the guy who gets organic joy in being liked – that whole rock star aspect of Obama.”
Harmon's new show, President Curtis, premiered on Adult Swim on 26 July.
