Every year on May 4th, Star Wars fans celebrate their beloved saga, with the date cleverly sounding like the franchise’s iconic phrase, “May the Force be with you.” This year, Donald Trump made sure to mark the occasion boldly with a unique portrayal.
The Department of Defense contributed to the Star Wars Day excitement by releasing a spirited, Star Wars-themed video. However, it wasn’t just their cinematic efforts that caught the public’s eye.
Unexpected Internet Buzz
The picture that really got everyone talking was one posted by the White House. It showed Donald Trump looking remarkably strong, holding a lightsaber with gusto, and striking an impressive pose between two American flags and mighty bald eagles.
While such a vibrant display might be expected around social media, many were surprised that it was coming from an official channel like the White House.
But what truly stood out, more than Trump’s larger-than-life image or the dramatic scene, was the color of his lightsaber: red.
For those familiar with the Star Wars universe, the red lightsaber is famously wielded by the Sith, the notoriously villainous group opposed to the Jedi. George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, once articulated that “Good guys are green and blue, bad guys are red.” In this light, the image presents a humorously ironic twist, portraying Trump as battling for the dark side rather than the good, which stirred a fair amount of conversation.
The Red Lightsaber Debate
One user on a social platform noted the contradiction, “The irony is just too obvious here! Depicting Trump with a Sith lightsaber while labeling others as ‘the empire’ is quite the mix-up.”
Though some argued that the red could symbolize the Republican Party’s color, the Star Wars series offers a spectrum of lightsaber colors that don’t bear negative impressions, such as green, yellow, or even the distinctive purple. None of these align with the Democrat’s blue, making the choice of red seem a strange one for those familiar with Star Wars lore.
This particular image wasn’t the first AI-generated surprise featuring Trump that the White House had shared. An earlier depiction showed him styled as the Pope, leading to a significant outpouring of reactions, especially as it came around the time of the Pope’s recent passing.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 3, 2025
Addressing the controversy over this comedic interpretation, Trump mentioned his amusement upon seeing it, sharing that even his wife, Melania, found some humor in the portrayal.
Responding to critics of the Pope image, Trump remarked thoughtfully: those taking issue perhaps simply “can’t take a joke.”
