In the dying days of 2025, Donald Trump wants to be more Maximus than POTUS as a new video from the White House today laughably tries to assert
Grabbing that pivotal battle scene at the beginning of Ridley Scott and Universal‘s 2000 blockbuster Gladiator, the White House today posted a “Just Getting Started” pastiche video of Russell Crowe‘s Maximus Decimus Meridius and the awkward 79-year-old Trump. The unflattering cut and paste result floats under the header of “President Trump preparing his team for 2026.”
Trump has never hesitant to steal someone’s intellectual property to suit his own needs and in the last days of the first year of his second term, the ex-Apprentice host seems desperate to don the armor and standards of the Roman Empire for a New Year’s flex. It’s certainly not the first time Trump has sought to put on Imperial airs under cover of “Senatus Populusque Romanus.” Regardless, this apparently AI free effort is one of the most embarrassing so far – which is saying a lot.
Take a look below at the bread and circuses efforts the Executive Branch is pushing out with your tax dollars:
A quick read of the geopolitical tea leaves would assume the authoritarian administration want to talk tough as military conflict with the regime in Venezuela looks set to ramp up. However, delivering a very different message in comparison than perhaps the MAGA team intended, the latest manosphere flex does less to “unleash Hell,” as 2001 Best Actor Oscar winner Crowe’s Roman general commands his legions in the clip, and more to make the scowling Trump look small on many levels.
Of course, taking the comparison to its logical conclusion, one supposes Trump becomes outplayed by a political rival and is sent down into servitude and the swordplay of the arena?
Maybe I’m overthinking it
Neither Universal nor reps for Crowe, who is in top form in award contender Nuremberg this year BTW, responded to Deadline’s request for comment on the White House propaganda piece. Whether or not the Comcast-owned studio wants to get into it with Trump, who loves to bash the Roberts family run Philly-based conglomerate, the fact is the result today is less Fair Use doctrine and more barbarians at the gates, if you know what I mean?
