January 23, 2026

In an ongoing series of controversial gestures, the Trump administration once again dips into the realm of pop culture without prior consent, this time incorporating imagery from the beloved video game *Stardew Valley*. The image, allegedly an AI-generated depiction, features Trump celebrating the reintroduction of whole milk in schools—a policy shift driven by RFK Jr.'s legislative push. Despite its seemingly innocuous intent, the image has sparked a broader conversation about intellectual property rights and the ethics of such usage by a presidential administration.
Previously, the administration has utilized elements from Pokémon and Halo for ICE recruitment purposes, receiving no public rebukes from Nintendo or Microsoft. This silent compliance might have emboldened further appropriations of copyrighted material, raising concerns among observers about the lack of accountability in such instances.
The latest *Stardew Valley* inspired image not only raises questions about IP misuse but also includes a subtle yet alarming nod to Trump's aspirations for a third term. The game's money counter reads "45464748," a sequence that cryptically references Trump's past and potential future presidency terms, stirring fears about his disregard for constitutional limits.
This numeric Easter egg aligns with Trump's previous assertions that he was unjustly deprived of a second term and his hints at seeking an unconstitutional third term. Such rhetoric, whether serious or meant to provoke, cannot be dismissed lightly given the former president's influence and the fervent loyalty of his base.
The reaction from Concerned Ape, the developer behind *Stardew Valley*, is yet to be seen. The gaming community and IP rights advocates are watching closely, hoping for a stand against this unauthorized use, which might set a precedent for future actions against similar infringements by high-profile figures.
As we await further developments, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in the intersection of politics, pop culture, and intellectual property rights. Whether these actions are a mere trolling attempt or a serious threat to democratic norms, they undeniably amplify the need for vigilant scrutiny and response from both IP holders and the broader public.