global news — Ben Mulroney, an AM talk radio host and host of The West Block, shared a video presented as airstrike footage that was actually gameplay from the milsim shooter Arma 3. The clip surfaced on February 28, 2026 ET after initial posts claimed it showed a US attack on Iran, and community notes flagged the footage as game content rather than real combat. A separate incident on March 4, 2026 ET involved Texas Governor Greg Abbott reposting a clip believed to be War Thunder gameplay under the impression it was real.
Global News: How the clip spread
The sequence is straightforward and sharp: a Chinese-language account first posted the clip claiming it depicted a US strike on Iran; a self-described MAGA account then amplified the footage with the line “This is one of the most AMAZING videos I have ever seen. ” That repost was picked up by higher-profile figures, pushing the clip into wider circulation. Community notes attached to early posts stated the footage was not a real F-15 attack but game footage, and later analysis identified the source as Arma 3 rather than the previously-claimed War Thunder.
This misidentification turned into a fast-moving item in global news as people with large followings reshared the clip without independent verification. The episode underlines how quickly gameplay footage can be mistaken for on-the-ground combat and how that content becomes part of the global news cycle when amplified by public figures.
Immediate reactions
Ben Mulroney, AM talk radio host and host of The West Block, has previously said he is “not a journalist, ” a statement that drew scrutiny after he shared the clip. TheUnHeard_One, a self-described MAGA account, posted the original enthusiastic line, “This is one of the most AMAZING videos I have ever seen. ” Critics in the wake of the posts argued the rush to share reflects a breakdown in basic verification, while others noted the technical challenge of distinguishing high-fidelity game engines from real footage.
Observers watching the spread have pointed out that the same pattern repeated in the governor’s case: a high-profile resharing turns a mistaken clip into a viral item, and the viral item then feeds the next wave of commentary and political reaction. That loop has now produced multiple entries in global news where video game footage masqueraded as real combat.
What’s next
Expect scrutiny to follow the accounts and figures who amplified the footage and to focus on verification practices among influential sharers. Platforms and some community moderation tools flagged the posts as game footage, but amplification by public figures kept the story alive in global news. Authorities, commentators, and media-watch groups are likely to press for clearer labeling and faster corrective notes when digitally created material is mistaken for real-world events.
As this episode develops, watch for any statements from the individuals involved and for additional clarifications on whether the clips were edited or presented out of context. The way these game-to-real misidentifications move from niche accounts to broad attention will remain a flashpoint in global news coverage and for anyone relying on fast social shares during breaking events.
