On May 4th, fans worldwide celebrate Star Wars, and this year, Donald Trump made sure the day was memorable. The Department of Defense kicked things off with a dramatic Star Wars-inspired video, but it was a post from the official White House account that truly sparked chaos.
The post featured a cartoonish, hyper-muscular Trump wielding a lightsaber, flanked by bald eagles and American flags. The caption took aim at the “Radical Left Lunatics,” framing them as the Empire. However, the glowing red lightsaber in Trump’s hand, a symbol of the Sith, inadvertently cast him as the villain rather than the hero.
Social media erupted with reactions, with many pointing out the irony of calling the left the Empire while wielding a Sith lightsaber. Some tried to defend the choice by noting red is the Republican color, but Star Wars fans weren’t convinced, as there are many lightsaber colors that don’t carry villainous connotations.
This wasn’t Trump’s first controversial image; he previously faced backlash for a photo of him dressed as the Pope. The May 4th post left the internet divided—some amused, others outraged, and many simply bewildered—ensuring that this year’s Star Wars Day would be remembered in a galaxy not so far, far away.
