The actor and director Ben Stiller questioned the White House for the use of his image in one of the videos published by the official account on social networks where they combine clippings of popular entertainment with fragments of the attacks of USA against Iranian targets.
Within the framework of the escalation of war in the Middle East, the presidential press office shared different audiovisual pieces that combine fragments of series, movies and video games with cuts of the attacks in Iran.
Among them, a video titled «Justice, American style»which begins with a scene from the movie «Iron Man,» and continues with moments from «Gladiator,» «Braveheart,» «Top Gun,» «Better Call Saul,» «Halo,» «John Wick,» «The Movie War,» «Superman,» «Breaking Bad,» «Transformers,» «Deadpool,» «Dragon Ball,» «Star Wars» and «Yu-Gi-Oh!» Among the clippings of the different films and series you can see fragments of the attacks.
The 42-second video exceeded 52 thousand views and obtained more than 19 thousand responses, including those of the comedian, who cited the publication in X to express his disagreement, especially with the use of the scene of «A movie war» (Tropic Thunder), a 2008 film that Stiller himself starred in and directed.
«Hey, White House, please remove the clip from Tropic Thunder. We never gave you permission and we have no interest in being part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie«claimed the actor.
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
Stiller was not the only Hollywood figure who questioned the White House videos. The director Jon Favreauwho was behind the cameras of the first two films of Iron Man -and also plays Happy Hogan in the UCM- expressed his rejection of both the video and the war with Iran.
«Hundreds of people are dead. Little girls are dead. Six Americans are dead. Others are risking their lives. «Millions across the Middle East are terrified,» he said, citing the video.
Hundreds of people are dead. Little girls are dead. Six Americans are dead. Others are risking their lives. Millions across the Middle East are terrified.
It’s not a video game. It’s not a meme. It’s not another chance to troll the libs. It’s fucking war. https://t.co/d9G3pSNrlL
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) March 6, 2026
He added that the war conflict «it’s not a video game»nor «a meme», or «another opportunity to troll liberals.» «It’s a fucking war,» he said.
The controversy behind the White House videos
These publications were added to other similar videos that the presidential press office used on other occasions. The official account had already used animations from the video games Call of Duty y Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
For example, in a video you can see Carl Johnsonalso known as «CJ», a fictional character and the playable protagonist of the fifth main installment of the Rockstar Games series.
«Ah shit, here we go again!», points out the character of CJ in the fragment of the game used, which in the video published in X is followed by fragments of attacks in Iran. All with the game’s music.
Another video includes fragments of SpongeBobwho wears a superhero suit whose skill is speed. In the scene, the character says «do you want me to do it again?», followed by cuts to the attacks.
