Since March 2025, Japanese officials have repeatedly requested the US government to stop using intellectual properties such as Mario, Pokémon, and Naruto in official social media posts linked to politics and military content [1, 2, 3]. The White House's X account posted a video blending Nintendo's Wii Sports footage with military strikes that month, sparking early concerns [1, 2].
In September 2025, the Department of Homeland Security shared a video pairing Pokémon hero Ash Ketchum with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid footage, prompting backlash. The Pokémon Company officially denied granting permission for that use [1, 2, 3].
In April 2026, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi publicly criticized unauthorized use of Nintendo Wii Sports footage in US White House social media posts during parliament sessions [1, 3]. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that even public institutions must obtain copyright holders’ consent before using such materials, calling it "inappropriate even for public institutions to reproduce copyrighted materials without the rightsholders’ consent" [1].
By June 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally submitted at least two requests via the US Embassy in Japan to the Trump administration, demanding a halt to unauthorized use of these popular anime and game franchises—including Naruto, Pokémon, and Mario—in memes and pro-war political content [1, 2]. The Trump administration’s social media content had included videos mixing Nintendo games and military footage as well as political memes using these characters [1, 2, 3].
The Pokémon Company reiterated that its mission "is to bring the world together, and that mission is not affiliated with any political viewpoint or agenda," distancing itself from the political use of its characters [1, 2, 3].
Japan’s diplomatic efforts continue as it presses the US government to respect intellectual property rights and cease using these cultural icons in political messaging without permission.
