Growing backlash in Japan over Trump's use of anime characters
A petition in Japan is growing after Trump posts used Naruto, Pokémon and other anime imagery in political content.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Japanese fans are pushing back against Donald Trump’s repeated use of anime and manga characters in social media posts. A petition has drawn nearly 20,000 signatures, while Pokémon’s rights holder says the White House did not have permission to use its imagery.
A lot of anime fans in Japan are upset because a U.S. president used famous cartoon characters in political posts. It is like someone borrowing a favorite toy for a school speech without asking and then using it to say something the toy’s owner never meant.
Analysis
What happened
Backlash is building in Japan over Donald Trump’s use of popular anime and manga characters in social media posts. The BBC says concern has been rising since March, when fans noticed images of characters such as Naruto, Pikachu and Yu-Gi-Oh! appearing in posts linked to Trump or the White House.
The most recent trigger was a Truth Social video in which Trump depicted himself as Naruto Uzumaki, the lead character in the long-running anime and manga series about a young ninja. That revived criticism from fans who say the characters represent values such as courage, friendship and perseverance, and that using them for political messaging distorts what the works stand for.
Why fans are upset
An online petition has now gathered almost 20,000 signatures. Its supporters argue that Trump and the White House should respect Japanese manga and the creators behind it. The petition was first launched in March after fans noticed White House X posts that paired U.S. military strike footage on Iran with clips from Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dragon Ball, as well as an image that appeared to use a Pokémon game screengrab with the phrase “Make America Great Again.”
Kanagawa resident Nana Suzuki, who started the petition, told the BBC she felt compelled to act because the work and spirit of Yu-Gi-Oh! creator Kazuki Takahashi were being used in a military context. She said she wanted a place for people who shared the same frustration to speak up.
The other side
Not all fans objected. The BBC says some social media users described the posts as funny or argued they could boost Naruto’s international recognition. Still, Pokémon Company International said the White House did not have permission to use its imagery and said it was not involved in the creation or distribution of the content.
Key points
- A Japanese petition opposing Trump’s use of anime and manga imagery has nearly 20,000 signatures.
- The backlash intensified after Trump shared a video portraying himself as Naruto Uzumaki.
- Fans say the characters stand for courage, friendship and perseverance, not political messaging.
- Pokémon Company International said the White House did not have permission to use its imagery.
- Some fans defended the posts as harmless or said they could increase the characters’ global visibility.
If the criticism leads to more care around permissions, creators’ rights could be better respected in future political posts. The debate may also encourage clearer boundaries between pop culture and partisan messaging. That could help avoid unnecessary offense while keeping the franchises’ global appeal intact.
If the posts continue, anger from fans and rights holders could deepen and turn into a longer dispute over misuse of Japanese cultural icons. The controversy could also normalize using beloved characters in highly partisan or military contexts, which critics say distorts the meaning of the original works.
