Viral One Piece Scene Sparks Discussion Following Trump’s Transgender Debate Comments

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris recently held their first presidential debate, during which a remark from Trump sparked an unexpected resurgence of a classic scene from the anime One Piece.

In the debate, Trump claimed that Harris “wants to do transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison.” This surprising comment quickly spread across social media, prompting One Piece fans to reference a memorable moment from the series. One character, Emporio Ivankov, possesses the ability to change people’s genders using hormones thanks to the Horu Horu no Mi Devil Fruit.

the “transgender operations on illegal aliens in prison” in question pic.twitter.com/hWSfqGl1Bh

— ava ☆ (@NAMIYONCE) September 11,

This leads to an impressive male-to-female transformation in Episode 442 during the Impel Down Arc. Luffy and Ivankov are searching for Ace’s prison cell when they encounter a guard.

Ivankov uses their powers to transform the prison warden into a woman. The warden’s reaction is uplifting, as she exclaims, “Oh, fabulous! Thank you very much, Ivan-sama! I found my true identity!”

Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, understands the significance of gender-affirming care. Luffy, surprised by the transformation, witnesses the ability but remains unaffected otherwise.

This scene has been widely shared with a caption referencing Trump’s statement, humorously addressing the topic of healthcare for everyone.

The moment has gained traction online, inspired both by the former president’s comment—which has led to many memes—and the enchanting nature of the clip. Although the episode originally aired in March 2010, it remains a significant part of the One Piece franchise.

Fans can catch up on this iconic series as it’s available to stream on Crunchyroll.