The Pro-Iran Meme Factory Mocking Trump with AI Lego Animation

Shortly after President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday night that he wouldn’t eradicate “a whole civilization,” a group of young Iranian activists sprang into action.

The collective, known as Explosive Media, was finalizing their latest AI-generated, Lego-themed video featuring a Trump mini-figure collaborating with leaders from Gulf states, Iranian officials poised to press a large red button labeled “back to the stone age,” and Trump hurling a chair at US generals.

This is among more than a dozen videos produced by the pro-Iran group since the conflict erupted in February, many of which have garnered millions of views across mainstream platforms. While Iranian government accounts have shared Lego-style content in the past, Explosive Media’s productions are more polished and scripted, created by a team of young pro-Iranian creators with a strong grasp of internet dynamics and American culture. Some critics have even suggested the group may have links to the Iranian government.

“We were almost certain Trump would back down; it was obvious to us,” a member of Explosive Media, who preferred anonymity, shared with WIRED. “We were ready for this outcome and had content prepared beforehand. We made a few edits and launched it.”

The video even integrated a reference to the 10-point plan Iran proposed in its recent ceasefire agreement. As it wraps up, a Lego Trump is depicted next to this document, tearfully clutching a white flag and eating a taco—an unmistakable nod to the acronym for “Trump always chickens out.”

Following Trump’s announcement, the video was posted on Explosive Media’s X account and Telegram channel, accompanied by the caption: “IRAN WON! The way to crush imperialism has been shown to the world. Trump Surrendered. TACO will always remain TACO.”

In contrast to the Trump administration, which has shared memes mixing war visuals with popular movie clips aimed at a loyal audience, Explosive Media’s Lego videos have appealed to a far wider audience in the US, with many evidently enjoying the content.

“We’ve dedicated ourselves to learning more every day about American people and culture,” the Explosive Media team member conveyed to WIRED. “During this journey, Americans have been instrumental in assisting us—and that support continues. They provide us with valuable insights and ideas.”

Explosive Media began in 2025 as a YouTube channel featuring political commentary from a young Iranian man. The initial content failed to gain popularity, with most videos receiving only a few hundred views.

However, everything shifted in February when the group started releasing Lego-inspired videos, scripting, producing, and editing each piece with AI tools. (The group has chosen not to disclose the specific AI tools used.)

These videos quickly gained traction on platforms like TikTok, X, and Instagram.

“People are moving away from some of the more serious conflict content and seeking something that quickly clarifies what’s happening in a language and tone they can relate to—that’s what these Lego videos accomplish,” Moustafa Ayad, a researcher at the Institute of Strategic Dialogue who has closely monitored Iranian online content during the war, explained to WIRED. “They make it easier to understand the conflict from Iran’s perspective while also addressing points of discontent in the United States. It has a dual impact.”

Iran has utilized Lego-style videos for war propaganda in the past. In 2024, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps shared links to a Lego video, and during the Twelve-Day War in 2025, Iranian state media celebrated victory over Israel in yet another Lego video.