The Controversy Surrounding AI-Generated Political Content
A recent AI-generated video featuring former U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked significant backlash, particularly in Japan, due to its use of characters from popular manga and anime. The video, part of a campaign music video for New York congressional candidate Anthony Constantino titled «Thank You, President Trump», showcases Trump in various surreal scenarios. Among these scenes is one where he is depicted as Naruto Uzumaki, the iconic character from the globally beloved manga and anime series Naruto. This portrayal led to widespread criticism from Japanese fans, who felt that the beloved character was being misused in a political context.
The image of Trump as Naruto quickly spread across Japanese social media, drawing sharp reactions from fans. Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto, is renowned for its themes of perseverance, empathy, and the search for peace. Critics argued that the video distorted the meaning of the series and placed Naruto in a context far removed from its original message. The backlash grew as screenshots and clips circulated online, with many users objecting not only to the political association but also to the broader use of AI to recreate protected fictional characters without permission.
The controversy soon escalated into a petition in Japan demanding that Trump and the White House stop using beloved manga and anime characters without authorization. The petition gathered nearly 20,000 signatures within a few days, highlighting the strong reaction from parts of the Japanese public. Supporters of the petition emphasized that fictional characters should not be turned into political tools without approval from creators, publishers, or rights holders. Many also pointed out the risks AI-generated political content poses to entertainment franchises, as recognizable characters can be copied, transformed, and circulated rapidly before companies have time to respond.
The Pokémon Company International's Response
The dispute also brought renewed attention to earlier concerns raised by The Pokémon Company International, which had previously condemned the unauthorized use of Pokémon-related imagery connected to the White House. After previous material used imagery associated with the Pokémon Pokopia video game, Sravanthi Dev, a spokesperson for The Pokémon Company International, issued a statement to major news outlets including The New York Times and the BBC. She stated, «We were not involved in its creation or distribution.» Dev added, «Our mission is to bring the world together, and that mission is not affiliated with any political viewpoint or agenda.» This statement underscored the company’s effort to separate its brand from partisan politics and highlighted the discomfort among major entertainment rights holders when their characters or visual styles are pulled into political messaging without authorization.
Broader Implications of AI in Political Campaigns
Trump and his campaign have faced repeated objections from artists, companies, and rights holders over the use of copyrighted material in political settings. For instance, the White Stripes frontman Jack White objected after the use of «Seven Nation Army» and filed a federal lawsuit alleging «flagrant misappropriation» of the band’s music. He also wrote: «Oh… Don’t even think about using my music you fascists.» Neil Young previously sued over the use of «Rockin’ in the Free World» and said on his website: «Imagine what it feels like to hear ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ after this President speaks, like it is his theme song. I did not write it for that.» Other disputes have involved ABBA, Foo Fighters, Céline Dion, Beyoncé, and Creedence Clearwater Revival, adding to a long record of artists objecting to Trump’s use of their work in political contexts.
The Naruto controversy also recalls Trump’s earlier use of imagery inspired by HBO’s Game of Thrones. In November 2018, he posted a stylized graphic announcing Iran sanctions with the phrase «Sanctions Are Coming — November 5,» a clear play on the show’s famous slogan «Winter Is Coming» and its signature visual style. HBO responded with a pointed public message: «How do you say trademark infringement in Dothraki?» The latest AI-generated Naruto video places that history in a newer technological context, where political campaigns and allies can use artificial intelligence to recreate familiar characters, visual worlds, and cultural references at speed. For Japanese fans, the anger surrounding the video is not only about Trump’s image as Naruto, but about the growing use of AI to attach political messages to fictional characters whose creators and communities never agreed to that association.
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