Pro-Iran group Explosive Media trolls Trump with AI Lego videos that rack up millions of views

Explosive Media Deploys AI Lego Videos to Shape War Narrative

A team of self-described young Iranian activists operating under the name Explosive Media has emerged as an unexpected force in shaping public perception of the US-Iran conflict. Minutes after President Donald Trump announced he would not "wipe out a whole civilization," the group released their latest AI-generated Lego cartoons featuring Trump mini-figures colluding with Gulf state leaders, Iranian officials pressing buttons labeled "back to the stone age," and Trump throwing chairs at US generals 1

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. The video even included a knowing reference to the acronym "TACO" - "Trump always chickens out" - showing a Lego Trump sobbing while holding a white flag and eating a taco 2

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Since February, when the US and Israel began strikes on Iran, Explosive Media has released more than a dozen videos that have racked up millions of views on mainstream platforms including TikTok, X, and Instagram 1

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. The group's content represents a significant evolution in pro-Iran propaganda, demonstrating sophisticated understanding of American culture that sets it apart from previous Iranian government efforts.

Trolling Donald Trump With Cultural Fluency

What makes these AI Lego videos particularly effective is their deep engagement with American pop culture and current events. The group has referenced bruising on Trump's hand that sparked health speculation, infighting within Trump's MAGA base, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's controversial confirmation hearing 4

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. One video depicts Trump ordering strikes after reviewing an "Epstein File" while standing alongside Satan and Benjamin Netanyahu, while another shows Iranian missiles bearing names ranging from Malcolm X to Jeffrey Epstein's victims 1

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"We've committed ourselves to learning more every day about American people and culture," an Explosive Media team member told WIRED. "In this process, Americans themselves have been helping us -- and that support and guidance continues. They share impactful tips and ideas with us" 2

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. This culturally fluent approach has enabled the group to reach broader US audiences than traditional propaganda, with thousands of TikTok comments praising the videos as more informative than Western media outlets 3

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Sophisticated Animated Videos Built With AI Tools for Content Creation

Explosive Media began in 2025 as a YouTube channel featuring political commentary that gained minimal traction, with most videos receiving only a couple hundred views 2

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. Everything changed in February when the team started scripting, producing, and editing AI-generated Lego cartoons using undisclosed AI tools for content creation. The videos quickly went viral across social media platforms 1

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A representative identifying as "Mr Explosive" told the BBC that the team uses Lego aesthetics "because it is a world language" 5

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. The group maintains that each video begins with a script used to generate AI footage, creating cohesive stories with clearly defined characters whose visual consistency helps viewers follow narrative arcs even without sound 3

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. The videos also feature catchy music including original AI-generated rap tracks in English, with the group establishing a Spotify page for their songs 1

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Information Warfare Strategy Raises Questions About Government Ties

While Explosive Media claims to operate independently with fewer than 10 people, multiple factors suggest potential connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The group maintains internet access despite Iran's virtual blackout of global internet connectivity, and Iranian state media regularly shares their content to millions of followers 5

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. In a BBC interview, Mr Explosive admitted for the first time that the Iranian regime is a "customer," contradicting previous claims of total independence 5

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Moustafa Ayad, a researcher with the Institute of Strategic Dialogue who has tracked Iranian online content during the war, explained the videos' effectiveness: "People are disengaging from some of the real conflict content and looking for something that can distill what's happening quickly and in a language and tone that they understand and that's what those Lego videos are doing. They're making it easily accessible to understand the conflict from Iran's point of view, and it's hitting on points of disaffection in the United States at the same time. It's working on two fronts" 2

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Mahsa Alimardani, director of human-rights group WITNESS, noted that the bandwidth needed to generate and upload such content indicates official or unofficial cooperation with the regime 4

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. "If you're able to have the bandwidth needed to generate content like that and upload it, you are officially or unofficially cooperating with the regime," she said.

Shaping the War Narrative Through Viral Propaganda

Analysts characterize Iran's approach as an information warfare strategy designed to leverage limited resources for maximum impact. "This is a propaganda war for them," said Neil Lavie-Driver, an AI researcher at the University of Cambridge. "Their goal is to sow enough discontent with the conflict as to eventually force the West to cave in, so it is massively important to them" 4

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The videos often contain factual inaccuracies but successfully amplify alternative narratives. One clip showing Iran capturing a downed US fighter-jet pilot contradicted US official statements that special forces rescued the airman, yet the video's narrative spread among English-speaking audiences 5

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. Propaganda expert Dr. Emma Briant described the content as "highly sophisticated," noting that AI has enabled Iran to communicate with Western audiences more effectively than ever before using tools trained on Western data to create "culturally appropriate" content 5

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While Explosive Media's official YouTube and Instagram pages were recently removed for violating policies on spam and deceptive practices, unofficial uploads continue spreading across X and TikTok 3

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. After the ceasefire announcement, the group posted: "IRAN WON! The way to crush imperialism has been shown to the world. Trump Surrendered" 4

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. The virality of these AI-generated memes demonstrates how authoritarian governments are adapting artificial intelligence to wage propaganda campaigns that resonate with Western audiences in ways traditional methods never could.