Senator Criticized for Using Star Wars Prop in Drone Debate

Doug Mastriano faced backlash after mistaking a TIE Fighter replica for a 'crashed drone' in social media posts addressing alleged aerial sightings.

Republican Senator Doug Mastriano shared a photo of a Star Wars TIE Fighter replica, claiming it was a drone involved in recent mysterious aerial sightings on the East Coast.
The image, which originated from a humor-focused Facebook group, was quickly identified by social media users as a Star Wars prop, leading to widespread ridicule.
Mastriano later claimed he knowingly used the image as a meme to highlight concerns over the federal government's handling of unidentified drones.
Federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, stated that recent drone reports posed no national security or public safety threat and were largely attributed to manned aircraft.
The senator's initial post, viewed nearly five million times, drew criticism for perpetuating misinformation and overshadowing legitimate discussions about aerial activity.