Patriotism is a good thing, and those in the Trump administration have long embraced its symbolic nature during both terms. Moreover, unlike previous Republican presidents and other GOP politicians, President Donald Trump has realized the value of public relations and the importance of political messaging that appeals to the masses. It is a strategy the administration continues to use to drum up support for Operation Epic Fury.
Most of the videos promoted on the White House’s social media platforms in support of Operation Epic Fury have had a snarky, yet comedic, sensational tone. Movie clips, songs, and even video game clips have been used in recent videos to support the military strikes against Iran. As funny as these videos are, it is a missed opportunity to showcase the evil and brutality of the Iranian regime over the last 47 years. It would be good to refresh the minds of Americans about Iran’s horrors during that time, which is one of the main reasons for Operation Epic Fury.
Consider that people of Iranian descent danced in the streets of cities throughout the world when news broke that Trump ordered the bombing of the Iranian regime. They celebrated the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei because he was a brutal theocratic authoritarian who murdered many of his own people. They were not dancing because of the might of the U.S. military’s weapons. Comedy is an effective tool in political messaging, but so, too, is gravitas. This is especially true given that many Americans question the motives of Operation Epic Fury. What better way to quell such doubt than by highlighting Khamenei and Iran’s horrors?
During World War II, some of the most effective uses of videos to support war efforts were created. Clearly, it is a much different time between now and then, and technology is much more evolved. However, in many of the videos, posters, and other materials used to support wartime efforts, the aim was to highlight the threat to freedom. Much of the content showed the barbarism of Nazi Germany’s Adolf Hitler, Italy’s Benito Mussolini, and Japan’s Emperor Hirohito.
To date, there do not appear to be any videos about Khamenei, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or any Iranian atrocities. And this is a regime that killed thousands of its own people just several weeks ago.
Now is the time to repeatedly sell the horrors of the ayatollah, the Guard, or the Islamic Republic’s terrorist proxy groups it funds. After all, what would generate more support from Americans for this military conflict, videos of Iron Man, or Wii Sports, or Iran butchering innocent people or launching terrorist attacks that harm thousands of civilians across the Middle East?
POLL: AMERICANS VIEW ICE MORE POSITIVELY THAN DEMOCRATS, NEWSOM, AND AOC
Trump has complained that he’s not been getting a fair shake from the media about its reporting on Operation Epic Fury. In response to the media bias, Trump posted to his Truth Social account, mentioning Iran’s horrors, correctly stating that Iran has been “killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years” and calling them “deranged scumbags.” He was correct to do so. Now, he should start showing the people why this is true, rather than merely telling them.
People will giggle and laugh at montages featuring U.S. bombs and clips of Iron Man, Gladiator, and Superman. They will be moved and emotionally affected by images and videos of the ruthless murders committed by the Iranian regime. Americans need to understand the evil horrors Iran’s Islamic Republic represents, not just get dopamine hits of U.S. military might.
Operation Epic Fury is about protecting the world from the evil of Iran, and it is time they start to be regularly reminded of it.
