Star Wars fans have quickly criticized the White House for posting an AI-generated image of Donald Trump wielding a red lightsaber on Star Wars Day (May 4th). The image, which was captioned with a political message comparing Trump’s opponents to the ‘Empire’ from the Star Wars franchise, inadvertently portrayed Trump as a Sith Lord – the villains of the series – due to his red lightsaber.
The Controversial Image
The computer-generated picture shows a muscular Trump holding a red lightsaber in front of U.S. flags and bald eagles. Fans were swift to point out on social media that the red lightsaber signifies Trump as a Sith Lord, contradicting the caption’s intention to cast his opponents in that role.
Fan Reactions
Users on X (formerly Twitter) criticized the White House for the inconsistency, with one stating, “Ummm, Red is the color of the Sith…” Another asked, “Why are you holding a red lightsaber though?” The reactions highlighted the fans’ understanding of Star Wars lore, where Jedi typically use blue or green lightsabers while Sith use red.
Context and Background
This incident isn’t the first time the White House has faced criticism for an AI-generated image. Earlier, there was controversy over an image depicting Trump as the Pope, which drew backlash from various figures including JD Vance and former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
The White House’s use of AI-generated images for political commentary has sparked debate about the intersection of politics, pop culture, and technology. While intended to engage with fans on Star Wars Day, the image ultimately became a focal point for discussion about political messaging and cultural literacy.
