THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

The White House is using anime as propaganda. Fans in Japan hate it Both fans and the Japanese government push back after a series of Trump administration posts using images from popular anime and manga.

Japan underlines stance on copyright works after Trump anime video post KYODO — A Japanese minister on Friday underlined the government's stance on unauthorised use of copyrighted works, after United States President Donald Trump posted a video on social media appearing to depict him as the hero of anime series "Naruto."

Growing backlash in Japan over Trump's use of anime characters Trump most recently posted a video in which he depicts himself as Naruto [Donald Trump/Truth Social] A backlash is growing in Japan over US President Donald Trump’s use of popular anime and manga characters in his posts on social media. Upset has been brewing since March, when fans started noticing the president using images of – and in some cases depicting himself as – iconic Japanese animation characters like Pikachu, Naruto and Yu-Gi-Oh!. Almost 20,000 people have now signed an online petition, arguing he does not share the values of the characters, and that using them for political reasons could infringe the creators’ rights. Pokémon Company International has condemned Trump’s use of its imagery. The BBC has contacted other rights holders and the White House for comment. The petition calling for Trump and the White House to respect Japanese manga was first launched in March, when a couple of posts caught the attention of some fans. The official White House X account had released videos combining footage of US military strikes on Iran with clips from Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dragon Ball. A day earlier, the account had publishe…

Trump's anime posts spark backlash in Japan over use of Naruto and ... Pokémon Sign in to your Polygon.com account 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 mi…

Trump's 'Naruto' video sparks backlash and 20,000 file ... - WION A growing petition in Japan targets Donald Trump over his use of manga and anime imagery—including a controversial "Naruto" video—sparking intense debates over political messaging and intellectual property rights. An online petition in Japan protesting the use of manga and anime characters in social media posts by US President Donald Trump and the White House has gained nearly 20,000 signatures. The protest resurfaced following a recent video uploaded to Truth Social on Saturday (June 6), which depicted Trump as the ninja Naruto Uzumaki from the popular series Naruto. This post triggered a furious reaction from the show's fan base. This incident follows a previous White House post from March, which combined footage of US military strikes on Iran with clips from well-known movies, shows, and the manga and anime series Yu-Gi-Oh!. While the petition initially launched in March, organisers reopened it on Tuesday (June 9) as an "urgent" initiative following the release of the Naruto video. The goal of the petition is to convey the growing concerns of anime and manga fans directly to the respective rights holders. Als…

Japanese fans draw the line at Trump using manga, anime to boost image Almost 20,000 people have signed an online petition in Japan to protest against US President Donald Trump and the White House using manga and anime characters in posts on social media. In the latest example, a video on Truth Social uploaded on Saturday depicts Trump as ninja Naruto Uzumaki from Naruto, sparking a furious reaction from some fans of the popular series. The clip is part of an AI-generated music video for “Thank You, President Trump”, a song by Anthony Constantino, a Republican from...

Naruto-themed Trump post draws criticism in Japan https://www.europesays.com/japan/38375/ The petition statement recalled that a similar campaign had been organised in March to protest the White House’s…

Growing backlash in Japan over Trump's use of anime characters The US president has angered some fans by using the images of characters like Pikachu and Naruto.

Hands Off Naruto: Japan's Anime Fans Slam Donald Trump's Political Use ... When the White House started posting videos mixing US military footage with clips from Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dragon Ball, and Donald Trump shared a video depicting himself as Naruto Uzumaki, fans across Japan took notice. What followed was not just online outrage but an organised reckoning over who gets to use anime, what these characters stand for, and whether political figures can weaponise beloved fictional icons without consequence. What Did Donald Trump Do With These Anime Characters? The backlash in Japan began in March when fans noticed a pattern in White House social media posts. The official White House X account released videos combining footage of US military strikes on Iran with clips from Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dragon Ball. A separate post featured "Make America Great Again" over a screengrab from a Pokemon video game. Trump later shared a video on Truth Social depicting himself as Naruto Uzumaki, one of anime's most iconic characters. How Large Has the Backlash in Japan Grown? Nearly 20,000 people have signed an online petition demanding that Donald Trump and the White House respect Japanese manga and i…

Japanese manga fans urge Trump to stop using characters in his online posts <p>Renewed outrage at White House’s use manga and anime imagery after US president is depicted as ninja Naruto</p><p>Japanese anime and manga fans are urging Donald Trump to stop using their favourite characters in his social media posts.</p><p>About 20,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org entitled Protect Japanese Manga, protesting against the official White House X account posting videos featuring unauthorised use of imagery from the popular Dragon Ball, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Naruto series. Angry fans have also been posting their displeasure on social media.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/10/japanese-manga-anime-fans-urge-trump-to-stop-using-characters-social-media-posts">Continue reading...</a>

Japan Pushes Back on Trump’s Anime Posts A Trump social media post from Saturday depicted himself dressed as the protagonist from the popular anime series “Naruto.”