Given Nintendo's brand image, Reggie's answer makes sense, and is the one I would have given if I was a Nintendo executive.
That said, the idea of apolitical art, even in Nintendo games, is ridiculous. Whether it was intentional or not, stuff like your inability to be dark skinned in Animal Crossing, or the ability to have gay relationships in Fire Emblem, are political statements.
So long as Nintendo is cognizant of that fact, I'm fine with Reggie's statement being their PR position.
P.S; I don't ever expect Mario to sit Bowser down and explain intersectional feminism to him, but recent games like ARMs and Splatoon featuring characters with dark skin and Fire Emblem Fates having (admittedly poorly written) gay relationships, does suggest to me that Nintendo is more socially and politically aware these days, even if they claim otherwise