Mark Ruffalo, Stephen King, Jack White and other Hollywood stars criticize US attack on Iran

Jack White claimed Donald Trump started a 'wag the dog war' to divert attention from the Epstein files
UPDATED MAR 1, 2026
Mark Ruffalo, Stephen King, and Jack White raise their voice against the strike carried out against Iran on Saturday, February 28 (Arturo Holmes, Mario Tama/Getty Images, Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)
Mark Ruffalo, Stephen King, and Jack White raise their voice against the strike carried out against Iran on Saturday, February 28 (Arturo Holmes, Mario Tama/Getty Images, Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)

WASHINGTON, DC: Hollywood celebrities have spoken out against the US-Israel military strike in Iran. From Mark Ruffalo and Stephen King to Jack White, several well-known public figures have expressed their opposition.

They criticized President Donald Trump’s decision, saying the strike should never have happened. John Cusack went further, calling it a “wag the dog war,” suggesting it was meant to distract from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

Ruffalo shared an article on social media about Jared Kushner, commenting, “He was sent to make sure we went to war.” The strikes hit Iran on Saturday morning, February 28, following weeks of escalating threats from the POTUS.



Celebrities speak out against Iran attack and rising tensions

In his eight-minute speech confirming the strike on Iran, Trump said Iran posed a threat to all and that it was time to act. He encouraged the Iranian people to reclaim power and urged them to remain safe amid the missile attacks. As tensions rose, several Hollywood celebrities criticized the decision and spoke out against his administration.

People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 (AP Photo)
People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday, February 28, 2026 (AP Photo)

Jack White, the lead singer of The White Stripes, spoke out on Instagram against Trump, criticizing his record on international conflicts during his second term. White also made fun of the way Trump looked while delivering his Saturday morning statement about the military strikes.

Cusack posted on X that  Trump started a “wag the dog war” with Iran to shift attention away from the Epstein files and to do "Netenyahu's [sic] bidding." The actor claimed the Israeli prime minister has "lobbied for this for over 30 years." He ended his message asking, "Had enough yet?" 



On Instagram Threads, Ruffalo posted an article about one of Trump’s lead negotiators with Iran, his son-in-law, Kushner, and wrote, “He was sent to make sure we went to war.”

King shared a post highlighting Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution, which, according to his tweet, states that "only Congress has the authority to declare war, as well as to raise and support armies, provide and maintain a navy, fund and regulate the military." The horror novelist ended his post by calling for Trump's impeachment. 



Kathy Griffin posted on Instagram that, in her view, Trump’s reaction to his name being referenced "38,000 times" in the Epstein files was simply to “bomb Iran.”

Trump says bombing on Iran to continue 'as long as necessary'



Trump said on Saturday that the US would continue bombing Iran for "as long as necessary to achieve our objective of peace throughout the Middle East."

He also claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attack, calling it “justice” for Iranians and others worldwide. Trump added that the leader’s death could give Iranians a chance to take control of their country.

The POTUS' remarks came as Iran launched missile attacks in the Gulf region in response to the US and Israeli strikes, escalating pressure on Tehran’s military capabilities.

Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it will convene an emergency meeting on Monday at 9 am (08:00 GMT) to discuss the strikes against Iran, according to Reuters.

RELATED TOPICS US STRIKES IRAN

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