Backlash grows in Japan over Trump’s use of Naruto, Pokémon, and other anime icons

U.S. President Donald Trump is in hot water with anime fans, as his ongoing use of storied characters and gaming imagery on social media draws criticism across the globe. Nowhere are his antics more vilified than in Japan, where a now four-month-old petition has already amassed thousands of signatures calling out the White House’s misuse of some of the country’s most recognizable characters.

It all started in March 2026, when Japanese anime fans began noticing posts from Trump and the White House that incorporated imagery from beloved franchises like Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Dragon Ball, and Naruto. Over the weekend, the backlash intensified after Trump shared a video on Truth Social depicting himself as Naruto Uzumaki, the protagonist of the globally renowned manga and anime series.

Aptly titled “Protect Japanese Manga,” the petition has drawn more than 23,800 signatures. It was originally launched after the White House’s official X account shared videos combining footage of U.S. military strikes on Iran with clips from Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dragon Ball. A subsequent post mimicked the title aesthetics of the video game Pokémon Pokopia to display Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again.”

The petition highlights how many of the works being referenced by the President are associated with themes such as courage, friendship, and perseverance — values that signatories argue are being stripped from their original context for political gain. One of the petition’s organizers, Nana Suzuki, told the BBC she was particularly troubled by the President’s military-themed Yu-Gi-Oh! content, pointing to the legacy of series creator Kazuki Takahashi, who died in 2022 while attempting to help people in dangerous ocean conditions.

The pushback extends far beyond grassroots fan forums. While the official Yu-Gi-Oh! X account issued a formal statement distancing itself, the Pokémon Company International issued a scathing denouncement of the MAGA-meets-Pokopia social post. “Our mission is to bring the world together, and that mission is not affiliated with any political viewpoint or agenda,” the company stated.

The friction has even escalated to international diplomacy. After a coalition of Japanese fans and members of Japan’s parliament raised complaints through the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a formal request to the U.S. Embassy regarding the unauthorized use of Japanese intellectual property. Given Trump’s post over the weekend, however, the message may have fallen on deaf ears.

Still, not every fan views the situation negatively. Some on social media argue the attention highlights anime’s global influence, often called “Cool Japan,” expressing pride that Japanese pop culture is recognizable enough to be referenced by the President of the United States.

Political leaders leaning on pop culture is not entirely unprecedented. In 2016, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe famously appeared as Mario during the Rio Olympics closing ceremony to hand over the games to Tokyo. But unlike the current controversy, that appearance was an authorized partnership designed to celebrate Japanese culture. Trump, critics argue, is clearly using it as an unauthorized political device.

For those signing Suzuki’s petition, that is the key distinction. The concern isn’t that anime has entered the political arena, but that beloved characters are being weaponized in ways that run directly counter to the values of their creators.