A Hollywood-themed propaganda video released by the White House, promising "justice the American way" for Iran, has sparked almost universal mockery online. The 42-second clip, posted on the official X account of the White House on Thursday, features movie stars from Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, while promoting characters including a corrupt lawyer, a drug dealer, and a freedom fighter resisting an invading army.
Video Content and Characters
The sequence opens with a scene from Iron Man 2, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, who declares, "Wake up, Daddy's home," as he activates a bank of computers. Downey Jr. has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump and actively campaigned for his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, during the 2024 presidential election run-up.
Next, the video shows Russell Crowe in Gladiator and Mel Gibson in Braveheart, both films centered on small entities defying powerful forces. Gibson portrays Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace resisting the English army, a theme echoed in the video's messaging.
Questionable Ethics Highlighted
After a clip of Tom Cruise as Maverick in Top Gun, the video features Jimmy McGill, an attorney with dubious ethics from the TV series Breaking Bad and its prequel Better Call Saul. Played by Bob Odenkirk, this character is known for defending Walter White, a teacher turned methamphetamine producer, and evolves into an unscrupulous con artist. In the White House edit, he screams, "You can't conceive of what I'm capable of."
Keanu Reeves, a Canadian citizen born in Beirut, appears next from the 2014 movie John Wick, announcing, "I'm thinking I'm back!" This is followed by Bryan Cranston, who plays Walter White in Breaking Bad, declaring, "I AM the danger!" Cranston has also been outspoken in his criticism of Trump, calling him a "Shakespearean serio-tragic-comedic character" in 2017 and denouncing his "demagoguery" at the 2019 Tony awards.
Provocative Messaging Strategy
The video concludes with a voice declaring "flawless victory" from the Mortal Kombat series, overlaid with the caption "The White House." This reflects the Trump administration's increasing reliance on provocative visuals to convey its messaging, mirroring the president's confrontational social media strategy of mockery, insults, and trolling.
Critics have labeled such content as "slopaganda," pointing to past instances where the administration has used manipulated images and AI technology. For example, in January, a photograph of a woman arrested at an immigration protest was digitally altered to make her appear crying. Additionally, a video from last October portrayed Trump dumping feces on U.S. citizens attending the No Kings protests.
Copyright Concerns Raised
It remains unclear whether the White House secured permission for using the clips in this latest video. Historically, numerous high-profile artists and musicians, including Abba, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, George Harrison, and the Rolling Stones, have clashed with the White House over unauthorized use of their material.
The online response to the video has been overwhelmingly negative, with comments accusing the Trump administration of immaturity and likening its social media approach to one run by teenagers. This incident underscores ongoing debates about the ethics and effectiveness of government propaganda in the digital age.
