The White House has sparked controversy after releasing a 42-second war promotional video that splices together scenes from Hollywood films. The clip has drawn widespread ridicule on social media along with questions about potential copyright infringement.
The White House recently posted the video on its official X (formerly Twitter) account with the caption "American Justice." The video opens with Robert Downey Jr. from "Iron Man" activating a computer system. Downey Jr. publicly supported Democratic candidate Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign and has criticized President Donald Trump.
The video then features Russell Crowe from "Gladiator" and Mel Gibson from "Braveheart." Crowe played a gladiator fighting against a tyrannical Roman emperor, while Gibson portrayed a Scottish freedom fighter resisting English invasion. Neither actor is American—Crowe is from New Zealand and Gibson from Australia. A scene of Tom Cruise from "Top Gun" pushing flight controls is cross-edited with actual U.S. military strike footage, creating the impression that the film character is conducting attacks on Iran.
The video also includes Bob Odenkirk, who played a corrupt lawyer in "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul," as well as Keanu Reeves from the "John Wick" series. Bryan Cranston from "Breaking Bad," who previously told The Guardian he was "devastated" by Trump's election, also appears. Superman, Deadpool, and other superhero characters are intercut with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Japanese anime "Yu-Gi-Oh!" also makes an appearance. The video concludes with "Flawless Victory" text from the "Mortal Kombat" franchise alongside a "White House" caption.
It remains unclear whether the White House obtained copyright permissions for the films and shows used. Multiple artists including ABBA and Beyoncé have previously protested the Trump administration's use of their works without prior consent.
The response has been harsh. The Guardian reported the video "received near-universal mockery online," with commenters questioning whether teenagers were running the administration's social media accounts. Critics on X called it "shocking" to treat airstrikes "like a cheap video game," with some saying no government in history has produced anything more embarrassing.
The Guardian analyzed that the video reflects Trump's signature social media strategy of embracing mockery and confrontation.
