A former neonatal nurse from Wisconsin is creating and distributing AI-generated LEGO-style videos that praise Iran and mock the United States, gaining a significant online following in the process. Mahdi Hemmat, who identifies as Iranian-American, worked until last year as a neonatal transport nurse at Aurora Sinai Medical Center in Milwaukee. He describes himself on social media as a "LEGO journalist... covering the information war brick by brick."
Hemmat regularly posts the AI-generated videos to his Instagram account, @persiaboihemmat, where he has amassed nearly 160,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok. The content often features animations of LEGO figures engaged in violent scenarios, set to custom rap songs.
One recent video, titled "Bullseye Loomer," targeted conservative commentator Laura Loomer, depicting her being menaced by snipers. The accompanying lyrics stated, "Bullseye Loomer look who froze, loved the red dots til one got close," as red sniper dots appeared over a LEGO representation of Loomer. This video alone garnered over 180,000 views on Instagram.
Another video celebrated the depicted death of Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), with lyrics proclaiming, "War hawk down, war hawk down, Lindsey flatline hear it now, you called for fire in every town, first on the list, war hawk down." The video received more than 104,000 views.
In an April interview with Russian state media RT, Hemmat, 37, took credit for the videos and espoused Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps propaganda. He told the outlet that the "Islamic Republic of Iran and her supporters is mocking [Trump] right back with... these Lego animations that go viral, honestly, instantly." He also referred to the US as a "rogue terrorist state" and criticized the former president's administration, suggesting it was "all talk and no control," with the influence of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Hemmat praised Iran's social media strategy, calling it "brilliant."
Hemmat claimed that his videos are weakening the public image of the former president and that Iran "controls the terms of engagement online, just like it does on the ground." He also asserted that "Low-cost, high-impact content forces billion‑dollar media empires to play defense."
Other videos posted by Hemmat include one from May 23 showing gunmen firing on the White House, which then erupts in flames. A video from June 10 depicts U.S. troops in the Middle East fleeing Iranian bombs, accompanied by a rap song referencing an Iranian claim that the IRGC struck 21 American bases in one night. The song stated, "21 bases lit up in one night, Iran got the receipts they can’t deny," as images of Iranian bombs destroying U.S. military infrastructure were shown.
Hemmat appears to be associated with Explosive Media—Akhbar Enfejari in Persian—a Tehran-based collective that also produces AI-generated LEGO propaganda videos and frequently tags Hemmat in its posts. According to a report from Global Affairs Canada, M. Taha Ansari Mohseni, who managed social media for Saeed Jalili's presidential campaign in Iran, is also a contributor to Explosive Media. The Canadian report indicated that these LEGO AI propaganda videos reached at least 83 million people in the first month of the Iran war.
While Hemmat's LinkedIn profile suggested he was still employed at Aurora Sinai Medical Center, a hospital spokesperson stated that his affiliation with the center ended in March 2025. Attempts to reach Hemmat for comment were unsuccessful.