U.S. and Iran Wage Propaganda War with Video Game Tactics

Governments use action movie aesthetics, video game soundtracks, and Lego-style animations to shape public perception of conflict.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:37pm

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The current conflict between the U.S. and Iran has seen a new evolution in propaganda tactics, with both sides employing increasingly sophisticated techniques that blend real-world footage with elements of video games, sports, and animation. The White House has posted videos that interweave authentic images of missile strikes and destruction with clips from popular culture, while Iran is responding with Lego-style war animations depicting minifigure versions of world leaders. This gamification of warfare is raising serious ethical concerns about desensitization to violence and the trivialization of human suffering.

Why it matters

The leverage of gamification in war propaganda is a significant departure from traditional propaganda methods, allowing for the rapid dissemination of content that evokes strong emotions and bypasses traditional media gatekeepers. This trend raises concerns about the potential for manipulation, as social media algorithms amplify content that is more likely to be shared and viewed, regardless of its accuracy or ethical implications.

The details

The White House has been posting videos online that interweave authentic images of missile strikes and destruction with clips from popular culture, such as the Call of Duty video game, Wii Sports, Top Gun, and Breaking Bad. Iran is responding with Lego-style war animations that depict minifigure versions of President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu allegedly plotting, Iranian commanders initiating launches, and civilians fleeing animated destruction in Israel, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia. This approach aims to simplify complex geopolitical issues and present a narrative accessible to a wider audience.

  • The White House has been posting these videos online in recent months.
  • Iran has been releasing its Lego-style war animations in response to the U.S. propaganda efforts.

The players

White House

The executive branch of the U.S. government, led by President Trump, has been actively posting propaganda videos online that blend real-world footage with elements of popular culture.

Iran

The Iranian government has been responding to the U.S. propaganda efforts with its own Lego-style war animations that depict world leaders and the conflict in a simplified, accessible format.

Cardinal Blaise Cupich

The Cardinal of Chicago, who expressed dismay at the use of gamification in war propaganda, stating that treating real war with real suffering like a video game is 'sickening.'

Anna Kelly

A White House spokesperson who defended the administration's approach, stating that the White House will continue to showcase the destruction of Iranian ballistic missiles and nuclear facilities.

John Vick

The executive director of Concerned Veterans for America, who cautioned that gamifying war undermines the sacrifices of American service members and emphasized that soldiers and pilots do not typically 'rejoice over the death of an enemy soldier or civilian.'

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What they’re saying

“Treating real war with real suffering like a video game is 'sickening.'”

— Cardinal Blaise Cupich, Cardinal of Chicago

“The White House will continue to showcase the destruction of Iranian ballistic missiles and nuclear facilities.”

— Anna Kelly, White House spokesperson

“Soldiers and pilots do not typically 'rejoice over the death of an enemy soldier or civilian.'”

— John Vick, Executive director of Concerned Veterans for America

What’s next

As the conflict between the U.S. and Iran continues, it remains to be seen how the propaganda war will evolve, with the potential for emerging technologies like deepfakes and augmented reality to further transform the landscape of war propaganda.

The takeaway

The gamification of war propaganda raises serious ethical concerns about the desensitization to violence, the trivialization of human suffering, and the potential for manipulation. It is crucial for the public to be critical of the information they encounter online, especially during times of conflict, and to verify sources and consider multiple perspectives before forming an opinion.