Topline
The Trump administration parodied the popular and widely memed AMC ad that stars Nicole Kidman, replacing a theater for the White House and replacing some of Kidman’s lines with pro-Trump content, though it’s unclear whether the White House obtained permission from AMC as it often cribs intellectual property for social media posts.
Key Facts
Like Kidman’s AMC ad, which follows the Oscar-winning actress through an AMC movie theater as she delivers a monologue, the White House’s video follows a person wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat as they walk through the White House.
“We come to this place for MAGA,” the ad begins, mirroring Kidman’s opening line: “We come to this place for magic.”
The video also parodies one of Kidman’s most widely memed lines (“Heartbreak feels good in a place like this”), as the voiceover says, “A country where we don’t do heartbreak. We do victory.”
The White House’s video uses music identical to that in the AMC ad, and it displays the word “MAGA” in a font similar to that of the AMC logo, adding, “Welcome to the Golden Age,” a possible reference to the Golden Age of Hollywood.
The White House’s post, made Monday night, has garnered nearly 2 million views and 35,000 likes as of Tuesday morning.
AMC has not yet commented on the video, and it is unclear whether the Trump administration contacted the theater chain or asked for permission to parody its ad (Forbes has reached out to AMC for comment).
surprising fact
The White House also recently used a clip from “The Odyssey” in a social media post. The clip, a brief conversation between actors Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson, featured Hathaway’s character saying, “The king is coming back.” The White House’s post added text that says, “The United States king is coming back,” before splicing together edited clips of President Donald Trump.
What Other Intellectual Property Has The White House Used?
The White House’s social media accounts frequently use intellectual property, including music, movies and games, to spread pro-Trump messages, ostensibly without the permission of the companies who own the rights to the parodied IP. In March, Pokémon Company International said it was “not involved” in the creation or distribution of a MAGA-themed post the White House made using Pokémon imagery. “Our mission is to bring the world together, and that mission is not affiliated with any political viewpoint or agenda,” the company said. The Pokémon Company previously said last year it did not give Immigration and Customs Enforcement permission to use the theme song to its anime series in a video flaunting migrant deportations. The administration has also faced numerous rebukes from singers who have opposed the use of their music in social media posts. Most recently, Katy Perry said she was “deeply appalled and angry” by the White House’s use of her hit “Firework” to boast about military strikes, adding, “To see a message of self-worth and upliftment weaponized to soundtrack destruction and violence is a complete violation of everything my song stands for.” Other singers who have previously condemned the administration for using their music include Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and SZA.
key background
AMC’s ad starring Kidman made its debut on the theater chain’s screens in 2021 as the company sought to bring theatergoers back to cinemas following the Covid-19 pandemic. The ad became a viral sensation and has sparked numerous parodies, including a “Saturday Night Live” spoof and plenty of recreations on TikTok. Kidman’s contract with AMC was initially set to last one year, but she renewed it following the success of the ad, and her commercial still plays before movies at AMC’s theaters five years later.
tangent
AMC said this past weekend was its highest-earning weekend at its theaters ever, citing the success of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” which shattered the record for the biggest domestic opening weekend of all time, as well as the lingering success of “The Odyssey.”
White House Doubles Down After Katy Perry Said She Was ‘Appalled’ By Use Of Her Song On TikTok (Forbes)
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