Anime mainstay Yu-Gi-Oh has criticized the White House for using a clip from the TV show in videos promoting US military action.
The White House’s recent foray into meme culture has seen it publish surreal montages of clips taken from popular films, TV shows, and video games, all mashed together with real US war footage to modernize its defense comms.
One March 6, video included a clip of Yu-Gi-Oh protagonist Yugi Mutou shouting “now end this” appearing for just one second in the 42-second clip posted to the White House’s X account, before cutting to an illustration of the President’s residence with the timeless “flawless victory” Mortal Kombat soundbite closing the sequence.
The video, titled “JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY. 🇺🇸🔥,” features snippets from Top Gun: Maverick, Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, and Netflix sensations Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, among others.
It really must be seen to be believed.
However, the team behind the Japanese anime and card game franchise certainly can believe it, and expressed dissatisfaction that their work is, among many other entertainment products, being transformed into US propaganda.
“It has come to our attention that a post on the White House’s official X account used footage from the anime series Yu-Gi-Oh!,” it stated via X.
“This was made without any authorization from the rights holder. Regarding this matter, no one associated with the manga or anime had any involvement, and no permission was granted for the use of this intellectual property.”
The social media strategy kicked off on March 5, days after the White House media team began sharing unclassified footage taken from military vehicles launching strikes at targets in Iran.
Some videos depicted aircraft dropping explosive ordnance on surface-based missile launchers, while other videos showed US submarines sinking Iranian vessels at sea.
Altogether, the media strategy evolved into merging this unclassified footage with pop-culture references, including a profane clip from the video game franchise Grand Theft Auto.
Yu-Gi-Oh is not alone in its frustration. Actor Ben Stiller and Steve Downes, who voices Halo’s Master Chief, have criticized the Trump regime for using their likenesses without consent.
Pokémon Company International also previously criticized the White House’s social media team for using its game imagery in a post cartoonifying the President’s trademark “Make America Great Again” phrase.
“We were not involved in its creation or distribution, and no permission was granted for the use of our intellectual property,” said Sravanthi Dev, spokesperson for the company.
“Our mission is to bring the world together, and that mission is not affiliated with any political viewpoint or agenda.”
A spokesperson at the White House told The Register that “the legacy media wants us to apologize for highlighting the United States Military’s incredible success, but the White House will continue showcasing the many examples of Iran’s ballistic missiles, production facilities, and dreams of owning a nuclear weapon being destroyed in real time.” ®