From Fox News: Actor Ben Liberal actor Ben Stiller called out the White House on Friday for using a clip from his comedy film “Tropic Thunder” as part of a montage it released featuring movies and real Iran strike footage.
On Thursday evening, the White House released a stylized video montage blending scenes from popular action films, video games, and shows interspersed with real footage of military action against Iran. The pro-military montage features scenes from popular movies like “Gladiator,” “Braveheart,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Superman,” “Transformers,” and soundbites and music from the video game series “Mortal Kombat.”
It also included a brief clip of Tom Cruise’s character dancing in “Tropic Thunder,” Stiller’s 2008 comedy satirizing war movies and Hollywood culture.
JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY. 🇺🇸🔥 pic.twitter.com/0502N6a3rL
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 6, 2026
“Hey White House, please remove the Tropic Thunder clip. We never gave you permission and have no interest in being a part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie,” he wrote in an X post.
“Tropic Thunder,” directed, co-written, and starring Stiller, is a popular film despite Why controversy over a chracter played by Robert Downey Jr. who wore blackface.
Hey White House, please remove the Tropic Thunder clip. We never gave you permission and have no interest in being a part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie. https://t.co/dMQqRxxVCa
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) March 6, 2026
Multiple social media users responded to Stiller’s post, pointing to his visit with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and calling him a hypocrite for using his fame in geopolitics in the past.
Examples follow.
“I love your work Mr. Zelensky…can I have your autograph?” https://t.co/MQJ4kkNgPC
— realstephaniegaddis🦋🌺 (@stephanegaddis) March 7, 2026
It’s called “fair use,” Simple Ben. It’s a legal doctrine. Ask your lawyer.
It’s kind of like me pointing out that the below GIF is the real you. Fair use. pic.twitter.com/GzhGI38Rdq
— Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) March 6, 2026
USAID paid you $4 MILLION for this. https://t.co/Y1uJBBZtkP
Also, Tropic Thunder doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to us. Go back to chimping around for our amusement.
— Dan Hollaway (@DanHollaway) March 6, 2026
"War is not a movie."
– Ben Stiller pic.twitter.com/PTxjZomwqf
— Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) March 7, 2026
SEE IT: White House posts videos combining real Iran war footage alongside movie, video game clips
Read more at Fox News
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