When the President of the United States is caught in a scandal just two weeks before the election, it's up to his White House advisor Ronnie Brean (De Niro) to clean up the mess. Ronnie joins forces with Hollywood producer Stan Moss (Hoffman) to divert the country's attention from the President's crime. They decide that what is needed to stop the media spotlight is a war, but lacking a real war, they fake one. Actresses play pretty refugees and rock stars record stirring hit songs about freedom. Soon America is rallying around the President. But trouble arrives when a rough and tough Senator gets wise to the pair's tricks. Meanwhile, election day gets closer and closer...