The White House’s official social media account recently used footage from the anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! in a video promoting U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The Yu-Gi-Oh brand has publicly stated that this footage was used without authorization and that no one associated with the manga or anime granted permission. Dan Green, the English voice actor for Yami Yugi, also condemned the use and described it as disrespectful to the memory of series creator Kazuki Takahashi.

Intellectual property laws exist for a reason. Creators and rights holders control how their work is used, especially when it is tied to political messaging or military actions.

Regardless of political views, government accounts should not use copyrighted material without permission, and should not co-opt beloved characters to promote violence or war.

This issue is bigger than one franchise. It raises concerns about the use of pop culture and entertainment properties in official government communications without consent.

We call on the White House to:

• Remove any unauthorized copyrighted material from official accounts
• Issue a public clarification acknowledging the lack of authorization
• Commit to respecting intellectual property rights in all future communications

Creative works should not be used as political tools without permission.

Sign this petition to demand accountability and respect for creators’ rights.