Bill Pullman, who played President Thomas J. Whitmore in Independence Day, has responded to a video tweeted by Donald Trump that shows his head superimposed over the actor’s during a scene from the 1996 film.
While the clip, which was created by the anonymous meme artist known as ‘Mad Liberals,’ featured Trump’s likeness, the voice in the scene was still that of Pullman.
‘My voice belongs to no one but me, and I’m not running for president this year,’ Pullman told The Hollywood Reporter.
Trump tweeted the offbeat video Saturday evening. In the clip, Trump is seen delivering the movie’s famous speech at Area 51 in which Whitmore, portrayed by Pullman, calls upon a ragtag band of military pilots as well as civilian volunteers to launch a final, last ditch assault on the alien invaders poised to destroy Earth’s major cities.
In addition to digitally mapping Trump’s face over Pullman, the video depicts a wide range of Trump supporters – including his White house team, Fox News hosts, and Jack Posobiec, a far-right activist who promoted the outlandish ‘Pizzagate’ conspiracy.
While the clip, which was created by the anonymous meme artist known as ‘Mad Liberals,’ featured Trump’s likeness, the voice in the scene was still that of Bill Pullman (right, in a scene from the movie). ‘My voice belongs to no one but me,’ Pullman said after seeing the clip
The video shows Trump delivering the movie’s famous speech at Area 51 in which Whitmore, portrayed by Pullman, calls upon a ragtag band to launch a final assault on the aliens
One cameo sparked particular backlash, that of One America News Network commentator Jack Posobiec (front), a far-right provocateur
Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson are among the real-life figures digitally inserted into the crowd scene from Independence Day
Lesser known figures from the Trump-supporting ‘Meme Team’ were also included
Response to the video was predictably divided along party lines, with Trump’s supporters applauding it as humorous and inspiring, and his detractors panning it as narcissistic and possibly racist.
Trump’s 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale features prominently, as do Ivanka Trump, Don Trump Jr, and Vice President Mike Pence.
Senator Ted Cruz is seen choking back a tear alongside Rep. Matt Gaetz, as Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson look on stoically.
Also seen are pundits Dan Bongino, Dinesh D’Souza, Mark Dice, David Harris Jr, and Brenden Dilley, as well as comedian Terrence K. Williams.
White House deputy communications chief Dan Scavino also features, along with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and creative officer Benny Johnson.
Posobiec’s cameo sparked particular backlash, with the One America News Network commentator and a far-right provocateur, who was seen superimposed on a character holding a rifle.
Ted Cruz choked back tears in the video as Ivanka Trump looked on from the background
Trump’s campaign manager Brad Parscale (front) was also featured prominently in the crowd scene
He has notoriously promoted ‘Pizzagate’, an unfounded conspiracy theory that claims Democrats harbor child sex slaves at a pizza restaurant.
He also once claimed, with no evidence, that Disney had rewritten Star Wars film Rogue One to include anti-Trump rhetoric, and called for a boycott.
‘Trump tweeted out this video that features white nationalist @jackposobiec in it holding a gun,’ tweeted comic video editor Vic Berger IV.
Posobiec has publicly denied that he is a white nationalist and denies being part of the so-called alt-right, a racist offshoot of conservative movement.
Other Trump critics piled on, with one tweeting: ‘When you’re such a bad President, you need to photoshop yourself on a fictional President.’
‘This is how Trump envisions himself… but in reality, we witness Trump not speaking in coherent sentences, lying, and throwing tantrums on the daily,’ another wrote.
Trump’s supporters responded to the video with enthusiasm, however.
‘And ladies and gentlemen u are witnessing the reason why the left is trying to ban political memes from twitter! This. Is. Gold,’ tweeted podcast host Tommy G.
‘Wow that’s a moving speech, Mr. President! Beautifully said!’ one person tweeted.
Trump returned to Washington, DC, from Camp David on Sunday afternoon.
Trump (pictured) returned to Washington, DC, from Camp David on Sunday afternoon
Trump is seen walking across the South Lawn of the White House in DC on Sunday
The president is seen speaking with reporters outside the White House on Sunday afternoon