Actor and filmmaker Ben Stiller has issued a public demand for the White House to remove footage from his satirical war film after the administration used it without permission in promotional content related to recent military strikes on Iran.
On Friday, March 6, Stiller, 60, posted a direct message to the White House via social media platform X, stating: "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."
The controversy stems from a White House social media post published Thursday, March 5, which featured a montage of cinematic war scenes from multiple Hollywood productions. The official White House account shared clips from Tropic Thunder, Braveheart, Top Gun, Superman, Transformers, Iron Man 2, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and other films, accompanied by the caption "JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY."
Tropic Thunder, which also starred Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr., is a satirical comedy that parodies Hollywood war films and the Vietnam War genre. The film's inclusion in government propaganda represents a stark departure from its intended satirical purpose.
The White House video was posted in connection with recent United States military operations in Iran. Last weekend, President Donald Trump and the administration confirmed an airstrike that killed Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, 86. In a statement shared via social media on Saturday, February 28, Trump, 79, described Khamenei as "one of the most evil people in history," adding that the action represented "justice for the people of Iran" and "all great Americans."
The military operation, which Trump has referred to as "Operation Epic Fury," has resulted in American casualties. On Sunday, March 1, the White House announced via X that three United States military service members had been killed in action. The statement expressed grief for "the true American patriots, who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation" and extended condolences to the families of the fallen.
Stiller represents the latest in a growing number of entertainment industry figures who have objected to the Trump administration's unauthorized use of their intellectual property for political and military messaging. Earlier this week, singer Kesha publicly condemned the White House for featuring her song "Blow" in a pro-war video.
In an Instagram Story posted Monday, March 2, Kesha, 39, stated: "It's come to my attention that The White House has used one of my songs on TikTok to incite violence and threaten war. Trying to make light of war is disgusting and inhumane. I absolutely do NOT approve of my music being used to promote violence of any kind."
Similarly, singer Sabrina Carpenter previously requested the White House cease using her song "Juno" in videos promoting controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.
The pattern of unauthorized content usage raises significant questions about intellectual property rights, the appropriateness of using entertainment media for government propaganda purposes, and the ethical boundaries of political messaging during military operations. Artists and content creators maintain legal ownership of their work and typically retain control over how and where their creative output is displayed or distributed.
The use of satirical anti-war content to promote actual military action represents a particularly controversial appropriation, as it fundamentally contradicts the original intent and message of the creative work. Whether the White House will comply with the removal requests from Stiller and other artists remains to be seen.