The White House keeps pumping out memes, and movie directors and recording artists keep making it clear that their work was used without permission, and they demand that the memes be taken down. The White House posted this update on Operation Epic Fury, and it includes clips from quite a few films:
JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY. 🇺🇸🔥 pic.twitter.com/0502N6a3rL
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 6, 2026
Volodymyr Zelenskyy superfan and “Tropic Thunder” writer, director, and star Ben Still wasn’t happy that a clip from his film was used without permission as war propaganda.
Hey White House, please remove the Tropic Thunder clip. We never gave you permission and have no interest in being a part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie. https://t.co/dMQqRxxVCa
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) March 6, 2026
Fair use is a bitch
— Stacey (@ScotsFyre) March 7, 2026
Hey there, pumpkin. Yeah, it’s called fair use and you have no say. So GFY.
— Rusty (@Rusty_Weiss) March 7, 2026
It’s called “fair use,” Simple Ben. It’s a legal doctrine. Ask your lawyer.
It’s kind of like me pointing out that the below GIF is the real you. Fair use. pic.twitter.com/GzhGI38Rdq
— Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) March 6, 2026
It’s fair use to compile footage like this. Your lawyer will set you straight. Now stop whining.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) March 6, 2026
pic.twitter.com/Kna5gxfY1K
— Serf (@TheRoyalSerf) March 7, 2026
Hahahahah. Nahh I think we’ll leave it.
Especially now that we know it bothers you
— kevin smith (@kevin_smith45) March 6, 2026
“War is not a movie” 🙄 pic.twitter.com/5Ug6LmO7VJ
— Rising Eagle (@risingeagleusa) March 6, 2026
Recommended
Nobody needs your permission and nobody cares about what you have to say.
— Alana Mastrangelo (@ARmastrangelo) March 7, 2026
You don’t own the clip, stop the performative outrage😂
— Nick Flor 🥋+🇺🇸 (@ProfessorF) March 7, 2026
DataRepublican let Stiller have it in a lengthy post:
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
… credentials.
Your film put Robert Downey Jr. in blackface. You directed that. Your script used the word “r*tard” 17 times. You wrote that. Twenty-two disability organizations (Special Olympics, The Arc, National Down Syndrome Congress, the AAPD) launched a national boycott. That actually happened.
You took the $188M and kept every frame.
2018: “I stand by my apology.”
2023: “I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder. Proud of it.”
Pick one.
Your father: Jerry Stiller.