White House Faces Backlash Over Trump's Star Wars Meme

On Star Wars Day, the White House posted an AI-generated image of Donald Trump as a muscular Jedi wielding a red lightsaber, accompanied by a caption that blended political rhetoric with Star Wars references. The social media post labeled Trump's opponents as the Empire and himself as part of the Rebellion, while referencing 'Sith Lords, Murderers, Drug Lords, Dangerous Prisoners, & well known MS-13 Gang Members.' The choice of a red lightsaber—traditionally associated with Star Wars villains—quickly drew criticism from fans, who pointed out that it inadvertently cast Trump in the role of a Sith rather than a Jedi. Additional controversy arose as the administration's chief Border Patrol agent shared a video aligning the agency with Darth Vader, further associating official imagery with Star Wars antagonists. Critics, including public figures, mocked the posts as misguided and tone-deaf attempts at meme culture, questioning the administration's grasp of the franchise's symbolism. The incident sparked widespread discussion about the use of pop culture in political messaging and the risks of misappropriation.