Trump Triggers Unauthorized Use Debate Over “Pokémon” and “Naruto” … Despite Two Japanese Government Protests, White House Lets Video Stand

White House’s “Yu-Gi-Oh!” Unauthorized Use … Video Stays “As Is” Even After Japan’s Second Protest

Unauthorized use of four works, including “Pokémon,” in policy promotion, directly clashing with the U.S. posture of protecting American intellectual property

U.S. President Donald Trump and the White House are embroiled in an international dispute after they reportedly borrowed Japanese-animation characters without permission for policy promotion. Japan’s government has used formal diplomatic channels to express strong regret twice, but the U.S. side has effectively brushed it aside, deepening the controversy.

Promotion in “my way,” even at risk of diplomatic missteps … Copyright infringement that won’t be erased

According to a report Thursday from the Mainichi Shimbun, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered renewed concerns, via the U.S. Embassy in Japan in April and again in June, about the “Trump administration” repeatedly appropriating characters without restraint. But the videos at issue remain left in place on official social media (SNS) accounts.

The White House’s “copyright infringement” cases span the board. In September last year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) showcased the performance of an illegal immigrant crackdown by featuring “Pokémon” protagonist Satoshi (Jii-yo). The move drew criticism for making light of immigration enforcement by adding the anime’s iconic line, “Gotta catch them all.”

Then last March, the U.S. posted what it called an “American-style justice” video on the official X (formerly Twitter) account, in which footage of an Iranian attack was cross-edited with “Yu-Gi-Oh!” and “Dragon Ball” characters. In response, the “Yu-Gi-Oh!” production company issued a statement immediately pushing back, saying, “There was no consent from any rights holder.”

The president turns to “Naruto” cosplay … America’s “intellectual property” principles wobble

Despite diplomatic protests, the appropriation didn’t stop. President Donald Trump directly uploaded a video to his own SNS, True Social, in June that composites the “Naruto” main character and his own face. After Japan’s second protest, only some videos on YouTube were made private, but high-impact SNS posts remain visible to the public.

That puts him directly at odds with the United States’ longstanding stance, which has strongly advocated protecting “intellectual property” on the global stage. A Japanese government official said, “The U.S. is undermining its own principles to promote the administration,” and sharply criticized the decision. Among artists in Japan as well, voices calling out unauthorized appropriation for political purposes are growing louder.