Backlash grows in Japan over Trump's use of anime characters
Nexus Europa Newsroom
Posted Jun 10, 2026, 01:30 PM UTC · In the digest of 2026-06-10-1330
A growing backlash has emerged in Japan concerning US President Donald Trump's incorporation of popular Japanese anime and manga characters into his social media content, with nearly 20,000 signing a petition.
A growing backlash has emerged in Japan concerning US President Donald Trump's incorporation of popular Japanese anime and manga characters into his social media content. The discontent began in March when observers noted the president utilizing images of, and occasionally portraying himself as, iconic animated figures such as Pikachu, Naruto, and Yu-Gi-Oh!. Nearly 20,000 individuals have now endorsed an online petition, asserting that Trump "does not share the" values associated with these cultural symbols. Sources: BBC News — World