US Politics
White House slammed for cartoon bowling video promoting deadly strikes in Iran: ‘War is not a game’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Read more
The White House has been shredded online for sharing a cartoonish bowling video promoting airstrikes on Iran.
The 34-second clip, which has been branded both “cringeworthy” and “absolutely shameful,” was uploaded to X on March 12. The clip begins with an ESPN segment featuring bowling legend Pete Weber’s viral “Who do you think you are?” moment from 2012.
In the clip, Weber prepares to hit his famous strike before the footage suddenly cuts to an animated set of bowling pins standing in a desert.
open image in gallery
Some of the pins begin brandishing guns, while one in the centre clutches a sign which reads, “We won’t stop making nuclear weapons.”
Then, the pins are dropped back into the bowling alley underneath a sign reading “Iranian regime officials.”
Suddenly, the bowling ball reappears, now painted with a U.S. flag, as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird blares in the background.
“Here comes the heat from the USA,” a voice shouts, before the bowling ball strikes the pins and causes them to explode.
A jet soars across the screen, before the footage cuts to real bombings from the U.S. military’s strikes in Iran.
The U.S. and Israel first launched strikes on the Islamic Republic on February 28, killing former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the process.
Since then, Iran has appointed a new supreme leader, the Ayatollah’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei.
Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly bragged about the U.S. successes in the conflict, even claiming that the military has “practically nothing left to target.”
open image in gallery
There has been widespread condemnation of the White House’s bowling video, with social media users tearing into the clip.
“The White House reduces the seriousness of war to a bowling alley,” one X user wrote. “Absolutely shameful.”
“My God, is this really what this country has become?” said another X user.
“Me triple checking if this a parody account,” posted another user on X.
“Real countries. Real People. Real consequences,” the Texas Reporter wrote on Facebook. “This isn’t a game.”
Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson, toldThe Independent that the U.S. was meeting its goals in the conflict with Iran.
“Under the decisive leadership of President Trump, America’s heroic warfighters are meeting or surpassing all of their goals under Operation Epic Fury,” Kelly said. “The legacy media wants us to apologize for highlighting the United States Military’s incredible success, but the White House will continue showcasing the many examples of Iran’s ballistic missiles, production facilities, and dreams of owning a nuclear weapon being destroyed in real time.”
Meanwhile, Pete Weber has yet to comment on being featured in the video. The footage used by the White House is from February 26, 2012, when he won his fifth U.S. Open title.
His reaction to winning the 2012 title has become a classic internet meme because of a confusingly worded question that he shouted to the crowd.
open image in gallery
“Who do you think you are? I am!” he asks, after punching the air several times.
“Get it right,” he adds, amid rapturous applause from fans.
Weber’s father, Dick Weber, was a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association and had won the U.S. Open title four times.
By winning the 2012 U.S. Open, the younger Weber surpassed his father’s record.
The Independent has contacted Pete Weber and Lynyrd Skynyrd for comment.
