Modern Warfare 3 to promote military operations in Iran

The White House is promoting the ongoing attack on Iran with a video Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 gameplay and real-world military footage, sparking some vocal online reactions. The move adds to the list of instances in which the Trump administration has used video game visuals in official communications, though this is the first time. Call of Duty title.

The United States and Israel have been launching joint strikes on Iran since February 28. Washington officials offered several justifications for the attack. Among the reasons often cited were claims that Iran had restarted its nuclear program and was developing long-range missiles capable of hitting the U.S. Some cited U.S. intelligence but gave no details. “After Midnight Hammer, they were warned against any future efforts to rebuild their weapons program, and nuclear weapons in particular, yet they continue,” President Trump said in his 2026 State of the Union address, held four days before the attack. Midnight Hammer was a series of strikes by the United States against Iran in June 2025.

On March 4, the White House's verified X account shared a 66-second clip of largely unclassified footage showing strikes on various Iranian military targets, captioned “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” The video begins with gameplay footage of the 2023 shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Depicting the activation of a match-ending MGB Killstreak. The entire montage plays to the beat of Childish Gambino's 2011 debut single. Bonfire.

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The Trump administration's Iran post has sparked a vocal backlash on social media. “If this was a parody account, it would be fantastic,” wrote one Reddit user on March 5, “Unfortunately, this is our real life and the lack of professionalism from the highest levels of our government.” The original X post prompted several responses describing the video as everything from “cringe” to “inappropriate.” Some commentators took particular issue with using video games to promote military action, arguing it communicates a lack of seriousness. “A video game? Is it for you?” asked one Twitter user, echoing that sentiment.

Former Call of Duty dev criticizes White House Iran post

East Call of Duty Developer Chance Glasco criticized the White House post but said he wasn't surprised by it. “I remember when Activision was hired after the formation of Respawn there was a lot of pressure from Activision to make another code about Iran attacking Israel,” the industry veteran wrote on X. According to Glasco, one of Infinity Ward's original employees, most developers at the studio were “disgusted by the idea”, which was ultimately rejected. The post-Respawn period would place the episode he referenced in 2010 or shortly thereafter.

While online reactions to the White House's Iran video appear to be negative, there is no shortage of dissenting opinions. Some netizens also argue that they are not supporters of the current administration Call of Duty Having long glorified the US military, they do not see this post as significantly different in this respect. However, willing to use such titles Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 The public messages seem to clash with President Trump's track record of blaming video games for real-world violence.

It's unclear whether Activision or its parent company Microsoft gave permission Modern Warfare 3 The footage will be used in White House communications. While the Trump administration has used it for the first time Call of Duty footage, it previously clipped other Microsoft-owned video games Minecraft and more hello Titles. Microsoft previously declined to comment on similar government uses of its video games. The ongoing war in the Middle East has resulted in more than 1,200 casualties, mostly on the side of Iran, according to a March 5 Reuters estimate. In early March 2026, six American soldiers were killed in Kuwait.