Key facts
- Japan's government has repeatedly requested the U.S. cease using anime and game characters in official posts.
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security used a clip mashing up Pokémon's Ash Ketchum with ICE footage without permission.
- The White House X account posted Wii Sports footage alongside Iran strike footage and clips from other franchises.
- The Pokémon Company confirmed it never granted permission for the use of its characters.
- Japanese officials view unauthorized use by a foreign state as brand risk, potentially diluting intellectual property.
- President Trump shared an AI-generated video of himself as Naruto on Truth Social.
Japan's government has lodged repeated appeals with the U.S. through diplomatic channels, including via the U.S. embassy in June, urging an end to the unauthorized use of anime and game characters in official U.S. government social media posts. The issue gained prominence after the Department of Homeland Security used a clip featuring Pokémon's Ash Ketchum with ICE raid footage, and the White House posted videos incorporating characters from franchises like Yu-Gi-Oh! and Halo alongside policy-related content. The Pokémon Company confirmed it never granted permission for its intellectual property to be used in such a manner. Japanese officials, including Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Cabinet Minister Kimi Onoda, have emphasized that it is inappropriate for public institutions to reproduce copyrighted materials without consent, citing potential damage to the image of these franchises. A fan-led petition, "Protect Japanese Manga," has also been relaunched to protest the unauthorized usage. The situation escalated further when President Trump shared an AI-generated video of himself as the anime character Naruto on Truth Social, prompting renewed attention and questioning of Japanese officials.