CNN Critics Berate Trump WH For Splicing Real Clips of Iran Strikes With Call of Duty': Like This Is a Game'

"The White House is reaching out to a very important, very big part of the population, including and especially those, I think that they consider their base gamers. It's part of the sort of the 'bro culture' that Donald Trump used to win. It's part of Pete Hegseth, why he's the secretary of war and why it's not the you know, the Department of Defense anymore. So it's part of the selling of the war, and we'll see if it's effective."

"I think listen, if you were part of the families who have lost Americans—six Americans have died—This is quite distasteful to liken war to a video game because, you know, these are soldiers lives who are at risk. And so, to liken them to a football game or a video game, I think is is offensive to a lot of people."

"It does fit in, and it also fits in with secretary Hegseth's criticism of the press for making too much of the casualties. Yeah, which and I think everybody would agree with this: Nobody's making too much of casualties. People who are reporting on it are honoring their service."

CNN critics condemned the White House for combining real footage of strikes on Iran with scenes from the video game Call of Duty in a social media post. The post, which opened with gaming footage, was seen as an attempt to appeal to gamers and younger audiences. White House communications director Steven Cheung responded with gaming terminology. Critics noted this approach mirrors Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's rhetoric, who has described military operations using sports analogies and emphasized "utter dominance." Panelists argued the video trivializes warfare by equating it to entertainment, particularly offensive to families of fallen soldiers. The strategy reflects what commentators called the "bro culture" associated with the Trump administration's approach to military communication.

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