Ben Stiller has publicly demanded the White House remove a clip from his 2008 film. tropical thunder of a government-produced video promoting the Trump administration’s military strikes against Iran, calling them “propaganda” and declaring that “war is not a movie.”
Stiller posted his objection to Gladiator, Brave heart, iron man, Breaking Bad, deadpooland top gun, interspersed with footage of real-life drone strikes and concluding with a voiceover declaring a “flawless victory.”
“Hey White House, delete the Tropic Thunder clip,” Stiller wrote. “We never gave them permission and we have no interest in being part of their propaganda machine. War is not a movie.”
The video sparked an immediate and widespread reaction online.
Journalist Séamus Malekafzali wrote: “I don’t think any government has ever produced anything more shameful and humiliating in the history of humanity. In some ways, I might be underestimating it.”
ABC Saturday Extra Host Nick Bryant asked, “Are there adults in the White House? Is there any understanding of the gravity and horror of war? This is a fraternity house, not the White House.”
Podcaster Vince Mancini made a pointed historical comparison, questioning why the administration would bother making a supercut of old movies as justification for military action.
