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Japanese anime and manga fans have renewed calls for US President Donald Trump and the White House to stop using popular Japanese characters in official social media posts, with nearly 20,000 people signing an online petition against the practice. The petition, titled Protect Japanese Manga on Change.org, objects to the use of imagery from franchises such as Naruto, Dragon Ball, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon in what fans describe as political or military contexts that go against the creators' intentions.The latest wave of protest was triggered by a video Trump posted on Truth Social over the weekend depicting himself as Naruto Uzumaki, the protagonist of the popular anime and manga series about a young ninja. The clip is part of an AI-generated music video for "Thank You, President Trump," a song by Anthony Constantino, a New York Republican endorsed by the president for Congress. The video places Trump in various settings, including riding a camel, standing before the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and planting an American flag on the moon.
Coverage comparison
The petition was first created in March, after the official White House X account posted videos that combined footage of US military strikes on Iran with clips from Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dragon Ball. Reports say a day earlier, the account had published an image with the phrase "Make America Great Again" over what appears to be a screenshot from the Pokémon game Pokopia. That initial wave of posts prompted the petition's creator—Japanese fan Nana Suzuki, according to ABC Australia—to start the campaign. Suzuki told ABC Australia that she felt angry when the White House used a clip from Yu-Gi-Oh! in a video showing military strikes, and that she wanted to channel the frustration she saw online into a tangible number showing society how strongly fans feel.The petition was submitted to the Japanese government in March, according to its creators, as reported by The Guardian. The petition text, quoted by The Guardian, says that "subsequently, the ministry of foreign affairs made a request to the US embassy in Japan regarding the unauthorised use of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Nintendo games on the official White House X account." ABC Australia also reported that Japan's foreign ministry lodged a complaint with the US Embassy in Tokyo over the use of anime imagery, and that Japan's Minister for Intellectual Property Strategy, Kimi Onoda, addressed the issue, emphasizing the importance of obtaining permission from copyright holders.
The petition gained renewed attention after Trump's Naruto video, with supporters signing again this month. ABC Australia reported the petition had gained nearly 25,000 signatures, while BBC and The Guardian reported around 20,000 signatures. The discrepancy likely reflects timing, with the petition continuing to gather support after initial reports.
Key claims
- Petition signatures: Almost 20,000 people have signed the online petition, as reported by BBC, The Guardian, and South China Morning Post. ABC Australia later reported nearly 25,000 signatures, suggesting continued growth.
- Trump's Naruto video: Trump posted a video on Truth Social on Saturday depicting himself as Naruto Uzumaki, as reported by BBC, The Guardian, and South China Morning Post. The video is part of an AI-generated music video, according to South China Morning Post.
- Petition message: The petition argues that Trump's use of anime and manga characters does not share the values of the characters, and that using them for political reasons could infringe creators' rights, as reported by BBC and The Guardian. The petition reads, in part: "For many years, these works have inspired audiences around the world by conveying values such as courage, friendship, and perseverance," quoted by BBC.
- Rights holders' responses: Pokémon Company International condemned Trump's use of its imagery, as reported by BBC. The official Yu-Gi-Oh! account on X issued a statement saying the original creators and anime staff were not involved and no permission was given for the use of the intellectual property, as reported by The Guardian.
- Government involvement: Japan's foreign ministry made a request to the US embassy regarding the unauthorized use of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Nintendo games, according to the petition text quoted by The Guardian. ABC Australia reported that Japan's foreign ministry lodged a complaint and that Minister Kimi Onoda emphasized the need for permission from copyright holders.