Ben Stiller criticized President Donald Trump’s White House for using a clip from the 2008 film “Tropic Thunder.”
The White House’s post read, “Justice the American way,” and included clips from films such as “Braveheart,” “Top Gun,” “Superman,” “Transformers,” “Iron Man 2,” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” Mr. Stiller responded on X: “Hey, White House, please take down the footage from ‘Tropic Thunder.’ We never gave you permission, and we have no interest in being part of a propaganda machine. War is not a movie.”
Stiller played Tug Speedman in the 2008 satirical film.
This is not the first time the White House and President Trump have used a film or song on social media to praise the president and his efforts.
Last year, he used Sabrina Carpenter’s “Juno” in a post depicting an ICE raid. Before the White House adopted Carpenter’s music for its ICE agenda, it did the same with Taylor Swift. A video released in November featured Swift’s “Ophelia Destiny” in a montage celebrating President Trump, despite the president’s frequent social media posts bashing Swift. The pop star did not comment on the video.
“Top Gun” songwriter Kenny Loggins made headlines in October when he objected to the White House’s use of his hit song “Danger Zone” in a video depicting President Trump flying over and pooping on Norkings protesters.
“This is an unauthorized use of my ‘Danger Zone’ performance. No one asked me for permission, but I would have refused, and I demand that my recording of this video be removed immediately,” Loggins said.
