Ben Stiller says he did not give the White House permission to use footage.
Famous actor Ben Stiller called out the White House for using a clip from the movie Tropic Thunder in a social media video. The video included scenes from other movies and shows like Top Gun, Superman, Transformers, and Breaking Bad, mixed with footage of U.S. military operations. The post was captioned: "Justice the American way," according to People.
Stiller took to platform X urging the White House to remove the clip. "We never gave you permission and we’re not interested in being part of your propaganda. War isn’t a movie,” he wrote.
JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY. 🇺🇸🔥 pic.twitter.com/0502N6a3rL
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 6, 2026
Other artists have reacted similarly in the past. Singer Kesha criticized the use of her song Blow in a video featuring military attack footage. "Trying to downplay war is disgusting and inhumane," she stated, adding that she does not support her music being used to promote violence.
Singer Sabrina Carpenter also voiced criticism when the White House used her track Juno in a video about immigration enforcement. The video was removed from platform X after her response.
