Japanese anime and manga fans are petitioning Donald Trump to cease using popular characters like Naruto and Dragon Ball in his social media posts without authorization. The movement gained traction after the White House posted videos incorporating unauthorized imagery, prompting calls for respect for creators' rights and cultural integrity.
The situation highlights growing concerns among international fan communities about the unauthorized use of intellectual property in political messaging and the potential for cultural appropriation to cause diplomatic friction.
Japanese anime and manga fans are calling on Donald Trump to cease using popular characters in his social media posts without authorization. A petition on Change.org, titled 'Protect Japanese Manga,' has garnered approximately 20,000 signatures, protesting the unauthorized use of imagery from series such as Dragon Ball, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Naruto.
The movement intensified after the official White House X account posted videos that incorporated scenes from these anime series, including one that combined footage of US strikes on Iran with anime visuals. This led to a formal request from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the US embassy in Japan regarding the unauthorized use of intellectual property.
The official Yu-Gi-Oh! account previously issued a statement clarifying that the original creators and anime staff were not involved in such uses and no permission was granted. The recent posting of an image on Truth Social depicting Trump as the ninja Naruto Uzumaki reignited fan concerns and spurred renewed lobbying efforts.
Fans expressed dismay over the perceived lack of respect for creators' rights and cultural integrity, with some stating that such actions reflect poorly on those who disregard rules and culture. They are urging the Japanese government to publicly address the issue.