Actor objects to use of Tropic Thunder clip in montage mixing films with real war footage
March 7, 2026: Actor and filmmaker Ben Stiller has criticised the White House after a video shared online used footage from his film Tropic Thunder alongside real military strike visuals. The clip, posted on the official White House account, sparked debate for blending scenes from popular movies with footage of aerial attacks linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Stiller said the use of the film clip had not been authorised and urged the administration to remove it.
The controversial montage featured scenes from several well-known titles including Gladiator, Braveheart, Iron Man, Top Gun, Deadpool and the TV series Breaking Bad, combined with footage of drone strikes. The video ended with a voiceover declaring “flawless victory,” drawing criticism from social media users who said it appeared to dramatise real-world military action.
Posting on X, Stiller wrote that he had no interest in having his work used for political messaging. Other artists have previously made similar requests, including singers Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and Kenny Loggins, who objected to their music appearing in government promotional videos. The controversy comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia following military operations involving the United States, Israel and Iran.