Japanese Govt Asks US Govt to Stop Using Mario, Pokemono, Naruto Meme Postings

The Japanese government conveyed concerns to the U.S. State Department in April and June 2026 after the Trump administration used anime content including Pokémon and Naruto without authorization in social media posts promoting policies like Iran attacks and immigration enforcement. Japan's Foreign Ministry emphasized that even government agencies require creators' permission to use intellectual property and warned about potential copyright violations and damage to the works' image.