Ben Stiller Gets Big Mad After White House Used Tropic Thunder Clip in Strike Video [WATCH]

Actor and director Ben Stiller criticized the White House after a promotional video highlighting U.S. military strikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran included footage from his 2008 film Tropic Thunder.

The video, released Friday on the White House’s official social media accounts, combined clips from several well-known films with footage from the recent military operation targeting Iran.

Scenes from movies such as Gladiator, Braveheart, Top Gun: Maverick, and the television series Breaking Bad were interspersed with combat footage from the strikes.

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Among the clips included in the montage was a scene from Stiller’s satirical war comedy Tropic Thunder. After the video circulated online, Stiller publicly objected to the use of the film in the White House post.

“Hey White House, please remove the Tropic Thunder clip,” Stiller wrote on X.

“We never gave you permission and have no interest in being a part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie.”

The White House video was designed as a promotional montage tied to the U.S. military operation against Iran.

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The footage alternated between scenes from films depicting warfare and action alongside images of jets, ships, and other military activity connected to the strikes.

Stiller’s comments quickly drew attention on social media, where users debated the use of movie clips in official government messaging about military operations.

The actor said he did not approve the inclusion of footage from his film and asked that it be removed.

Hello Mr. Stiller.

You: “War is not a movie.”

Also you: wrote, directed, and pocketed $188M from Tropic Thunder, a film whose entire premise is actors who mistake a war for a movie. You literally already made this point, for profit.

Let’s check your oh-so-virtuous leftist… pic.twitter.com/LhbL4EaW4Y

— DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) March 7, 2026

Other filmmakers whose work appeared in the video have not publicly commented on the White House’s use of clips from their projects.

The controversy follows a similar dispute earlier involving singer Kesha, who criticized the White House after one of her songs was used in a separate video tied to the military operation.

In that case, the White House posted a TikTok video showing footage of a jet striking an enemy ship while Kesha’s song “Blow” played in the background.

The singer later responded on social media after learning her music had been included in the clip.

“It’s come to my attention that the White House has used one of my songs on TikTok to incite violence and threaten war,” Kesha wrote.

“Trying to make light of war is disgusting and inhumane.”

She continued her criticism in the same message.

“Love always trumps hate. Please love yourself and each other in times like this. This show of blatant disregard for human life and, quite frankly, this attack on all of our nervous systems is the opposite of what I stand for.”

The White House later responded to the criticism, suggesting that complaints from public figures had drawn additional attention to the video.

“All these ‘singers’ keep falling for this. This just gives us more attention and more view counts to our videos because people want to see what they’re bitching about. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” the White House said.

All these “singers” keep falling for this. This just gives us more attention and more view counts to our videos because people want to see what they’re bitching about.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. https://t.co/QIAzNh4Xhg

— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) March 3, 2026

The videos are part of a broader online messaging effort surrounding the recent military operation targeting Iran.

Government social media accounts have shared multiple clips highlighting the strikes and related military activity.

The inclusion of popular film scenes and music in some of those videos has prompted criticism from entertainers whose work appeared in the posts without their approval.

Stiller’s request to remove the Tropic Thunder clip remains part of the ongoing online exchange over the White House’s promotional content related to the military strikes.

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