Ben Murray, Author at Air Force TImes

Master Chief actor condemns use of character in White House’s Iran war hype video

Ben Murray — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 20:49:32 +0000

“Wake up, daddy’s home,” Robert Downey Jr., playing the role of Iron Man, says at the beginning of a video posted to the White House’s X account Friday.

In the post, the clip kicks off a high-energy mashup of scenes from popular movies and TV shows cut together with real-world footage of U.S. military strikes against Iran.

The video was one of six posts Friday on the White House’s social media accounts that liberally pulled snippets from popular films, TV shows, sports events and music — running the gamut from AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” to SpongeBob SquarePants — and paired the clips with footage of Operation Epic Fury.

Among them: a scene featuring Master Chief, the iconic character from the long-running “Halo” video game series. In the short clip, Master Chief says he’s “finishing this fight.”

JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY. pic.twitter.com/0502N6a3rL
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 6, 2026

But over the weekend, actors and others involved in some of the projects shown in the clips condemned the White House’s hype videos.

Steve Downes, the actor who voices Master Chief, in particular, was none too happy about it, and said he did not endorse the use of his voice or agree to be involved.

“I demand that the producers of this disgusting and juvenile war porn remove my voice immediately,” he posted on X on Sunday.

pic.twitter.com/JODHpTiAYo
— Steve Downes (@SteveDownes117) March 8, 2026

“Tropic Thunder” actor and director Ben Stiller also called for the video to be pulled down. A clip of Tom Cruise from the 2008 film appears in the post.

“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,” Stiller wrote in a post on X on Friday.

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

The Trump administration has often ignored calls from artists to remove their content from its messaging.

After singer Kesha posted on social media last week condemning the use of her song “Blow” in a White House video, White House communications director Steven Cheung wrote in a post on X, “All these ‘singers’ keep falling for this. This just gives us more attention and more view counts to our videos because people want to see what they’re bitching about.”

‘I’m not sure where the airplane is…’ ― Hear F-35 pilot’s 911 call

Ben Murray — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 19:24:28 +0000

Listen to a Marine pilot call 911 after ejecting from his F-35 and landing in a rural neighborhood.

Audio of a Marine Corps pilot’s call to local rescue authorities was released on Friday. In the call, a local resident tells a 911 operator that the pilot landed in his backyard, before the pilot himself gets on and tries to explain he had to eject due to an “aircraft failure” and doesn’t know where his jet has crashed. (Source: AP)

A look back: June 6, 1944 — The Allies storm Normandy

Ben Murray — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 05:03:22 +0000

The sights, sounds and images of the Allies’ invasion of France to stop the Nazi war machine are still evocative today. On the 78th anniversary of D-Day, we take a look back.

Honor the Fallen | Memorial Day 2022

Ben Murray — Mon, 30 May 2022 13:58:50 +0000

Military Times takes a look back at the names and faces of service members lost in named conflicts since last Memorial Day.

WATCH: President Joe Biden’s White House address on Russian invasion of Ukraine

Ben Murray — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 20:14:33 +0000

President Joe Biden delivered an address from the White House on Feb. 24, 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Watch a replay here.

‘Find a way to serve.’ | Dear Young American: Ron Shurer

Ben Murray — Mon, 31 May 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Staff Sgt. Ron Shurer earned the Medal of Honor for actions as a Special Forces medic in Afghanistan in 2008. In the first installment of Dear Young American, he talks about finding a way to serve those around you, no matter where you are.

“Dear Young American” is a 10-part series of conversations with Medal of Honor recipients about what they would say to those just entering a critical phase in their lives and stepping into adulthood. Find the full series at: https://www.militarytimes.com/medalofhonor/

The investigation of a parachute accident, new squad weapons, and jetpack assault teams ― The Briefing 10.22.20

Ben Murray — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 07:00:00 +0000

Questions about Army parachute procedures arise after a tragic accident involving a Green Beret. New squad weapons are on track to be delivered to troops, and learn about the latest development in the case of the amphibious assault vehicle sinking that claimed the lives of Marines and a sailor.

Plus, did someone say jetpack assault squads? The Royal Marines show off some Hollywood-worthy tech.

All that and more on The Briefing for 10.22.20.

WATCH: The end of tanks? A midair collision and napping for lethality ― The Briefing 10.8.20

Ben Murray — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 18:41:12 +0000

Frightening images of deadly precision strikes on armor in a border region between Armenia and Azerbaijan raise the question: Have modern weapons made tanks obsolete? An expert weighs in.

Also, hear the real-time audio of a KC-130 pilot during a midair collision, and get a glimpse of the Marines Corps’ first new base in 70 years. Also, some new holistic self-care from the Army that includes the idea of napping as a route to better fighting condition, and see raw video of pararescue jumpers leaping from a plane to save a mariner in distress.

All that and more on The Briefing for 10.8.2020.

WATCH: A lethal new side of COVID, and a plan to close Parris Island? — The Briefing, 10.1.20

Ben Murray — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 21:37:35 +0000

New data suggests military suicide numbers have taken an alarming jump in the time of COVID-19 — and both active duty service members and veterans could be at risk. The Marines look at closing Parris Island, South Carolina, as they move toward integrated training platoons and look for the optimal facilities to be home for the new Corps, and Military Times tags along in one of the last two B-29s still flying for some rare footage.

Finally, a story of Vietnam heroism that some say is worthy of a Medal of Honor.

All that and more on The Briefing for 10.1.20.

WATCH: A bigger Navy to fight China? Stealing from a Medal of Honor recipient. And the Marines recruit Gen Z ― The Briefing, 9.24.20

Ben Murray — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 14:36:10 +0000

The Secretary of Defense lends support for a Navy big enough to push back China. At the same time the Army sends more troops to Syria to elbow back the Russians. Meanwhile, the Iranians are calling for a “hit” on anyone involved in a strike on their top general earlier this year. And a Medal of Honor recipient gets an ugly surprise after returning from a trip.

Finally, how should the Marines try to court Gen Zers to join up? See how they took their shot with their latest ad.

All that and more on The Briefing for 9.24.2020.