US President Donald Trump has come under fire from Japanese anime fans after sharing AI-generated content featuring imagery resembling popular anime and manga characters, prompting thousands to sign a petition demanding an end to the unauthorised use of Japanese intellectual property.
The controversy erupted after Trump shared an AI-generated music video on social media that depicted him in a series of fantasy-inspired scenes, including riding a camel, cruising through Indian streets on a motorcycle and sitting atop a lion.
Japanese viewers quickly noticed that one character appearing in the video closely resembled Naruto Uzumaki, the iconic protagonist of the globally popular anime and manga series Naruto. The figure was seen wearing orange-and-black clothing and making hand gestures similar to the ninja hand signs featured in the franchise.
The incident has triggered a wave of criticism across Japan, with anime fans accusing Trump and the White House of using beloved Japanese characters for political messaging without permission.
A petition titled “Protect Japanese Manga” on Change.org has attracted nearly 24,000 signatures, calling on the White House and Trump to stop using Japanese anime and manga imagery without authorisation.
The backlash extends beyond the Naruto-inspired video.
Critics also pointed to a White House social media video released in March that reportedly combined scenes from popular franchises such as Dragon Ball, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Marvel productions with footage of US military operations against Iran.
Petition organisers argued that these characters represent values such as courage, friendship and perseverance, and claimed their use in political content goes against the intentions of their creators.
Many anime fans expressed disappointment that their favourite characters were being drawn into political debates, while others called for greater respect for intellectual property rights and creative works.
The petition’s organisers said the campaign was first launched in March and has since been submitted to the Japanese government.
According to reports, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has raised concerns with the US Embassy in Tokyo regarding the unauthorised use of content linked to Yu-Gi-Oh! and Nintendo properties on official White House social media accounts.
Meanwhile, The Pokémon Company International has reportedly criticised the use of imagery associated with its brand in political content linked to Trump.
As the controversy continues to grow, calls are mounting for governments, public institutions and political figures to respect copyright laws and obtain proper authorisation before using popular cultural icons in promotional or political campaigns.
The dispute has reignited broader discussions about artificial intelligence, intellectual property rights and the growing use of copyrighted characters in online political messaging.
