A video shared by U.S. President Donald Trump on June 6, generated with artificial intelligence and showing him as Uzumaki Naruto, the main character of the popular manga and anime series Naruto, sparked backlash in Japan.
According to Jiji Press, Naruto fans on social media expressed anger, claiming the image was used without permission. The reaction quickly evolved from a social media debate into a broader discussion about copyright and content usage.
Petition Campaign Relaunched
To protest Trump’s post, a campaign titled "Protect Japanese Manga" was launched on Change.org. The organizers recalled that objections had also risen after a similar post in March, when the White House used Yu-Gi-Oh images.
The petition stated that such posts increase the concerns of rights holders and that the campaign was relaunched as a form of protest. Approximately 20,000 people signed the petition after it was restarted on June 9.
Yu-Gi-Oh Post Also Under Criticism
The criticism was not limited to the Naruto video. In March, the White House’s U.S.-based X platform account used Yu-Gi-Oh images in a video related to attacks on Iran, which also sparked debate in Japan.
At that time, it was stated that the White House had used anime images without permission. This development further intensified the backlash following the new Naruto post.
Initiatives Reach Parliament and Foreign Ministry
The campaign statement also recalled that after the Yu-Gi-Oh post, support was called for among members of the Japanese parliament. The objections gathered under the same title were shared with Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Agency for Cultural Affairs through the Cabinet Office.
It was noted that Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also contacted the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo regarding this issue. Thus, Trump’s anime post went beyond a social media debate and became a matter addressed through diplomatic channels.
