Flemish Producer’s Mortal Kombat Track Used in Trump War Video
A cult dance hit by Belgian producer Olivier Adams has been thrust into the center of a political firestorm after the Trump White House used his iconic “Techno Syndrome” — better known as the “Mortal Kombat” theme — without permission in a war propaganda video promoting U.S. military strikes on Iran. The 58-year-old Flemish composer is seeking compensation, but the White House has refused to respond.
Context
Composed in 1993 for the video game Mortal Kombat, “Techno Syndrome” has become one of the most recognizable video game anthems in history. Over three decades, Adams has licensed the track legitimately to major studios including Warner Bros., Netflix, and Disney, as well as for appearances in “The Simpsons,” “Fortnite,” and a remix by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. The White House’s use marks the first time in 33 years that the track has been used without authorization, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
Key Developments
In early March 2026, the White House posted a 40-second montage on social media showing real U.S. airstrikes on Iran intercut with clips from action films including “Iron Man” and “Top Gun.” The video ends with the Mortal Kombat-inspired tagline “Flawless Victory” and the text “Justice the American Way” — all set to Adams’ signature track.
Adams discovered the unauthorized use when his wife spotted the video on an Instagram post from a Mortal Kombat fan account. “I choked on my coffee,” Adams told HLN. “That can’t be true, I thought. I went looking, found the video, and yes, very clearly my song.”
His publisher, Sony Music Publishing, immediately initiated legal proceedings and successfully had the video removed from the White House’s TikTok and Instagram accounts. However, the video may still circulate on other platforms.
But when it comes to compensation, Adams faces a wall of silence. France 24 reported that the White House’s “gamification” of war coverage drew widespread criticism from media watchdogs and political opponents. Sony informed Adams that obtaining payment is effectively impossible. “Sony writes to me literally that getting compensation is impossible,” Adams said. “They’ve tried that in the past with other claims, but the White House simply doesn’t respond. You can’t win against the American president.”
Adams made clear he would never have granted permission if asked. “No fucking way,” he said. “I don’t think much of Trump and I’m against any form of war. If Obama or Biden had asked for a war promo, also not. I don’t want to do anything political with my music anyway.”
Analysis
The incident places Adams in a long and growing list of artists who have objected to Trump’s unauthorized use of their music, including Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Adele, R.E.M., The Rolling Stones, and Beyoncé. The White House’s broader communications strategy during the Iran conflict involved multiple videos blending real combat footage with pop culture references — a tactic widely described as “gamifying” war. Actor Ben Stiller also publicly asked the White House to remove a clip from his film “Tropic Thunder” from a similar propaganda video, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
For Adams, the episode represents a stark power imbalance between individual creators and state actors. Despite having a clear copyright claim and a major publisher backing him, enforcement against the U.S. executive branch has proven nearly impossible. The case raises troubling questions about intellectual property protections when governments decide to appropriate creative works for propaganda purposes.
What’s Next
The video has been removed from official White House accounts on TikTok and Instagram, but questions remain about whether it will be fully taken down across all platforms. Adams joins a cohort of artists asserting control over their creative work, but the precedent set by the White House’s non-response may embolden similar actions in the future. For now, the Flemish producer is left with the unsettling reality that one of his most celebrated creations was repurposed for a cause he fundamentally opposes — with no recourse in sight.”