Pro-Iran Trolls Target Trump With AI Lego Animations
▼ Summary
– A pro-Iran group called Explosive Media quickly released an AI-generated Lego-style video mocking Donald Trump after he announced he would not escalate a conflict.
– Their sophisticated videos, which have gained millions of views, use American cultural references to present Iran’s perspective on the war to a broad U.S. audience.
– The group’s members are young, internet-savvy creators who prepare content in advance based on predicted political scenarios.
– Some critics allege the group has ties to the Iranian government, which has a history of using similar Lego-style videos for propaganda.
– Researchers note these videos succeed by making complex conflict information quickly understandable and by tapping into U.S. domestic dissatisfaction.
Shortly after President Donald Trump declared he would not destroy an entire civilization on Tuesday evening, a cadre of young Iranian activists swiftly mobilized. This group, operating under the name Explosive Media, was finalizing its newest production, an AI-generated Lego animation satirizing the American president. The clip depicts a Trump minifigure conspiring with Gulf state leaders, Iranian officials threatening to press a “back to the stone age” button, and the president hurling a chair at U.S. generals.
This release marks the latest in a series of over a dozen videos the pro-Iran group has disseminated since the war began in February, with many accumulating millions of views across major social platforms. While Iranian state accounts have a history with Lego-style propaganda, Explosive Media’s output is notably more polished and narratively driven. It is crafted by a team of digitally savvy creators who demonstrate a sharp understanding of American internet culture, leading some observers to suspect connections to the Iranian government.
A team member, who requested anonymity, explained their rapid response. “We were almost certain Trump would back down,” they said. “We had content prepared for this scenario in advance and made only minor adjustments before releasing it.” Their preparation included incorporating details like Iran’s proposed 10-point ceasefire plan. The video ends with a Lego Trump crying beside the document, waving a white flag while eating a taco, a pointed nod to the acronym TACO, or “Trump always chickens out.”
The video was live on Explosive Media’s X and Telegram channels within hours, captioned with declarations of an Iranian victory and the enduring nature of “TACO.” This content strategy contrasts with the Trump administration’s own meme campaigns, which often repurpose war footage and movie clips for a core base. The Lego animations, however, have demonstrably reached a wider American audience, resonating with some viewers.
“Our commitment is to learn more every day about American people and culture,” the team member noted. “In this process, Americans themselves have been helping us by sharing impactful tips and ideas.” The group’s origins trace back to a low-traffic political commentary YouTube channel in 2025. Its fortunes transformed this February with the pivot to AI-produced Lego videos, which are scripted and edited using undisclosed artificial intelligence tools. These clips found immediate traction on TikTok, X, and Instagram.
Experts point to the videos’ unique appeal. “People are disengaging from raw conflict footage and seeking content that distills events quickly in a familiar tone,” said Moustafa Ayad, a researcher at the Institute of Strategic Dialogue. “These Lego videos are making the conflict easily accessible from Iran’s perspective while simultaneously tapping into American disaffection. They operate on two fronts effectively.” This approach builds on a precedent; Ayad noted that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps promoted a Lego video in 2024, and state media used another to claim victory over Israel during the 2025 Twelve-Day War.
(Source: Wired)
