Overview

• The White House posted an AI-generated image of President Trump as a muscular Jedi for Star Wars Day, but the red lightsaber he wields is traditionally linked to Sith villains in the franchise.
• The post included a partisan caption comparing Democrats to the Empire and accusing them of supporting 'Sith Lords' and other criminals, drawing backlash for its tone and symbolism.
• Social media users and Star Wars fans were quick to mock the image, pointing out the contradiction between the intended heroic portrayal and the lightsaber's villainous connotation.
• This follows a prior controversy over an AI-generated image of Trump as the Pope, which was criticized for being insensitive in the wake of Pope Francis's recent death.
• The administration's reliance on AI-generated, meme-style imagery has sparked broader discussions about the appropriateness and messaging of official White House communications.