YouTube terminates Explosive Media channel that makes Lego-themed AI videos mocking Trump

YouTube has terminated a channel that produces Lego-themed AI videos ridiculing U.S. president Donald Trump.

The channel was suspended on Mar. 27.

"We terminated the channel for violating our spam, deceptive practices and scams policies," a YouTube spokesman told AFP on Apr. 15, without elaborating.

The move by the Google-owned platform sparked online criticism.

Pro-Tehran media

Explosive Media has been reported to be a group of pro-Tehran creators, but describes itself as independent.

Its animation videos accompanied by rap tunes during the U.S.-led war in Iran have racked up millions of views.

Many of the videos have been copied wholesale and shared by online users and platforms.

BBC earlier reported that a representative of Explosive Media admitted that the Iranian regime was a customer of theirs, despite repeatedly saying it was independent.

Explosive Media was still posting videos mocking the U.S. war effort on other platforms, including the Elon Musk-owned X and Telegram.

The outfit lashed out on YouTube by writing on X: "Seriously! Are our LEGO-style animations actually violent?"

Meta-owned Instagram also took down the group's account, U.S. media reported.

However, another account under its name was still active on Wednesday.

Meta did not respond to AFP's request for comment.

Explosive Media content still shared widely

YouTube's suspension appeared to have limited impact on Explosive Media's reach, it was reported.

Content creators on the platform have been resharing its videos.

Many have also reacted to it and stitched content highlighting the videos' existence.

What Lego-style videos depict

The animated videos frequently portray Trump as a caricaturised figure in the style of Lego figurines, who is prone to childish tantrums.

The clips tap into American popular culture and relies heavily on its talking points, such as by frequently name-dropping Jeffrey Epstein, the late disgraced financier and child sex offender.

Iranian generals are also depicted as Lego figures, who press a red button labelled "Back to the Stone Age" and destroy the Middle East.

In the wake of the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, Explosive media posted a video on X with the caption: "TACO will always remain TACO," referring to the acronym "Trump always chickens out".

Analysts have dubbed this form of media and its successful proliferation as the "Legofication" of conflict propaganda.

Such English-language content appears aimed at audiences outside Iran, given that social media platforms, such as X, are only accessible via VPN having been blocked for years.

Top photos via Explosive Media & White House