A stylized White House video apparently designed to promote the Trump administration’s war in Iran, featuring clips from several major Hollywood films, has caused a stir on social media — and at least one celebrity has spoken out.
The super manic video (below) features clips from movies and TV shows such as Gladiator, brave heart, Iron man, Very bad, dead pool and top gun, He interrupts them with realistic footage of drone strikes. The video concludes with a voiceover declaring a “flawless victory.”
Ben Stiller, who hit 2008 Tropical thunder Included in the montage posted on X: “White House, please remove Tropical thunder section. We never gave you permission and have no interest in being part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie.
The video almost seems designed to deliberately try to get out of Hollywood, anyone who might disagree with President Trump’s decision to launch Operation Epic Fury against Iran’s leadership and military, and those who might prefer the White House maintain some standard of respect.
“I don’t think any government in the history of humankind has ever produced something more embarrassing and humiliating,” wrote journalist Seamus Malikqafzali. “Maybe I’m somehow underestimating it.” ABC Saturday extra Host Nick Bryant posted, “Are there any adults in the White House? Is there any understanding of the gravity and horror of war? This is a frat house, not the White House.” Popular satirical account Evan Loves Worf quipped: “This is the most ‘everyone is 12 year old’ bullshit I’ve ever seen.” Meanwhile, podcaster Vince Mancini made a comparison to the Iraq War: “Why bother putting Colin Powell in front of Congress as justification when you can just put together a great collection of old movies?”
White House, please remove the Tropical Thunder clip. We never gave you permission and have no interest in being part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie. https://t.co/dMQqRxxVCa
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) March 6, 2026
The celebration of airstrike footage seems particularly bad given that Reuters reported yesterday that US military investigators believe US forces were likely responsible for an apparent raid on an Iranian girls’ school that killed dozens of children on Saturday.
This marks the latest example of celebrities asking the Trump White House not to use their material. In December, Sabrina Carpenter asked the White House to remove her song “Juno” from a video promoting ICE deportations. The previous month, Olivia Rodrigo requested that her song “All-American Bitch” be removed for a similar deportation video. Previously, Kenny Loggins requested this Top Gun It hit “Danger Zone” to remove an October video showing a fighter jet attacking protesters.
THR Newsletters
Sign up to get THR news straight to your inbox every day
Subscribe subscription
