Tokyo – A significant backlash is growing in Japan, as nearly 20,000 people have signed an online petition demanding that President Donald Trump and the White House stop using popular manga and anime characters in their political and social media content.
The petition, titled “Protect Japanese Manga,” has gained renewed momentum after President Trump posted an AI-generated video on Truth Social depicting himself as Naruto Uzumaki, the beloved protagonist of the globally popular Naruto series. The video shows Trump in Naruto’s signature orange-and-black outfit performing ninjutsu techniques.
Organizers and fans expressed deep concern that these iconic characters are being used in political and military-related contexts that do not align with the original messages of friendship, perseverance, and justice promoted by their creators.
“As fans, we want to convey our concerns about the unauthorized use of Japanese anime imagery in U.S. government SNS videos,” the petition states. Organizers have previously raised the issue with Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which reportedly contacted the U.S. Embassy regarding unauthorized use of characters from Yu-Gi-Oh! and Nintendo properties.
Why Fans Are Upset
Discontent began building in March 2026 when the White House shared videos combining real-world U.S. military footage (including strikes on Iran) with anime scenes. The recent Trump-Naruto video has reignited the campaign, with organizers pledging to intensify lobbying efforts with the Japanese government and rights holders.
One organizer noted: “These characters represent important parts of Japanese culture. Using them for political messaging without permission disrespects the creators and the values they stand for.” Fans have also taken to social media to voice frustration, arguing that the usage could damage the wholesome image of these franchises.
Potential Copyright Implications
Legal experts highlight that this controversy raises serious questions about intellectual property rights. Japanese manga and anime characters are strictly protected under copyright law, often owned by major studios like Shueisha, Toei Animation, or Bandai Namco.
- Unauthorized Use: Depicting public figures as copyrighted characters or incorporating anime footage in official political content without licenses could constitute infringement.
- Fair Use Limitations: Political speech enjoys some protections in the U.S., but commercial or official government use (especially with AI-generated deepfakes) may not qualify as fair use in Japan or internationally.
- Precedent: Similar cases involving unauthorized use of characters in advertising or politics have led to cease-and-desist letters or lawsuits in the past.
Rights holders such as those behind Naruto, Dragon Ball, and Yu-Gi-Oh! have not yet issued official statements, but the petition aims to pressure them to act and protect their intellectual property.