When Rockstar Games unveiled the cover art and pre-order details for Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA6), U.S. government accounts flooded social media with parody memes. The White House posted a cover fused with an image of President Trump, and even Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined in. Rockstar, the creator of the cover, declined to comment, stating, 'No comment.'

Rockstar Games released the official cover art and pre-order schedule for GTA6 on the 18th. Given the high level of anticipation for the game, the reveal caused a stir online, even without a gameplay trailer. The cover maintains the series' traditional split-collage format, featuring protagonists Jason and Lucia at the center, surrounded by characters like Boobie Ike and Raul Bautista, along with vehicles, all packed around the game logo.

Pre-orders for the game begin on the 25th via digital stores for PS5 and XSX, as well as at select retailers. Full-scale marketing is expected to ramp up ahead of the official launch on November 19. Immediately following the reveal, a parody craze swept social media, with individuals and brands alike creating and posting their own versions of the GTA6 cover.

A wave of U.S. government accounts jumped on the trend. The White House used its official X account to post a custom cover featuring four images of President Trump. The post, which mimicked the game's signature color palette, included the caption, 'We saved America before GTA6.' This played on the long development cycle of GTA6, utilizing a meme format that highlights having accomplished something before the game's release.

This participation in the meme trend did not end with the White House. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted a similar AI-generated cover video through his official work account. The U.S. Department of Labor and the Customs and Border Protection agency also posted GTA parody images on their respective accounts.

Regarding these government-led memes, Rockstar declined to comment to the gaming outlet Kotaku. Given that game companies have often remained silent when their intellectual property is used in political contexts by the administration, Rockstar's silence is being interpreted as a similar choice.

Previously, President Trump and Secretary Kennedy have criticized video games for their violence and glorification of illicit acts. Consequently, some have pointed out the contradiction in their active use of gaming memes. There is also a sense of irony in using the GTA cover as a promotional tool, given that the series has long satirized government and authority. Additionally, some eagle-eyed fans pointed out a detail error, noting that the helicopter, a staple of the series' cover art, was positioned on the wrong side.

Meanwhile, this cover meme trend demonstrates that the buzz surrounding GTA6 has grown so massive that it has transcended the gaming industry and reached the political sphere. The Trump administration has consistently utilized memes based on various popular games.