Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

NJCher

(43,050 posts)
Thu Mar 12, 2026, 10:52 PM Thursday

The White House compares deadly conflict to video games and movies

in memeified videos to win support for Iran war

The White House says its war meme strategy has viewers focused on the military’s successes. Others see a “disturbing” development.

snip

The White House’s video Friday began with a brief clip from the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. It quickly transitioned to footage of the U.S. military bombing an Iranian vehicle.
“Wasted” soon appeared on the screen, the same image that flashes across the game when a player dies.

“L1, R1, SQUARE, R1, LEFT, R2, R1, LEFT, SQUARE, DOWN, L1, L1,” Steven Cheung, the White House’s communications director, tweeted as he posted the Grand Theft Auto cheat code to unlock unlimited ammunition for the user-controlled player.

There were more in recent days: A video titled “STRIKE,” featuring clips of bowling and bombings, another connecting baseball bombs with the real variety, and a post juxtaposing military strikes to Nintendo Wii gaming.

snip

Link to story at NBC.

You'll have to go to the link to see the videos. Some are posted on X.

However, here are a few links to these dumb videos that glorify war:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/strike-%F0%9F%92%A5%F0%9F%A6%85/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/laser-focused/

3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The White House compares deadly conflict to video games and movies (Original Post) NJCher Thursday OP
Lawrence Just Excoriated trump Over This NJCher Thursday #1
Just saw your post: Rhiannon12866 Saturday #3
No wonder the White House is fcuking things up so badly. C_U_L8R Thursday #2

NJCher

(43,050 posts)
1. Lawrence Just Excoriated trump Over This
Thu Mar 12, 2026, 11:01 PM
Thursday

His take on the story was trump was insulting his supporters by thinking they were stupid enough to be influenced by these videos.

If Rhiannon posts Lawrence's clips tonight, try to watch it. Lawrence has a much better take on this story than the NBC story I posted in my OP.

The NY Times also has a story on this trump glorification of war. I checked archive for a link but they don't have it yet. A few snips:

The Trump Administration Goes to War, by Any Memes Necessary
A series of White House social-media videos turn the carnage in Iran into gleeful entertainment.

A grid of four images shows Mel Gibson in “Braveheart,” what appears to be military targeting footage, Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman, and a robot with a glowing helmet.
A social media video released by the White House mixed pop culture clips with bombing footage.
Credit...A video released by the White House

March 11, 2026
On Feb. 28, the Trump administration launched war on Iran. The following week, it drafted Iron Man, Walter White and SpongeBob.

These characters, and many more figures from movies, TV, sports, music and video game memes, appeared in a series of short, trolling videos from the White House, on platforms including TikTok and X (formerly known as Twitter), that reduce the war’s carnage and upheaval to flippant, dystopian amusements.

For Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, war was hell. But as represented by the Trump White House’s social feeds, war is LOL.

James Poniewozik is the chief TV critic for The Times. He writes reviews and essays with an emphasis on television as it reflects a changing culture and politics.

Rhiannon12866

(254,556 posts)
3. Just saw your post:
Sat Mar 14, 2026, 10:57 AM
Saturday

And I make a point of posting Lawrence every night he's on.

Lawrence: Trump's Iran war propaganda videos show the depths of his depravity - The Last Word - MS NOW
https://www.democraticunderground.com/132168639


C_U_L8R

(49,309 posts)
2. No wonder the White House is fcuking things up so badly.
Thu Mar 12, 2026, 11:02 PM
Thursday

Dudes. Dudes. Get your faces out of video games and social media and clean up your goddamn mess.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The White House compares ...