May the farce be with you: Trump's Jedi meme sparks new controversy
In the new image posted on X (formerly Twitter), Trump appears wearing Jedi robes, flexing exaggerated muscles, and wielding a red lightsaber — a weapon traditionally associated with the Sith, the dark side antagonists of the Star Wars universe. The backdrop features two bald eagles and the American flag.
The accompanying caption read: "Happy May the 4th to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are fighting so hard to bring Sith Lords, Murderers, Drug Lords, Dangerous Prisoners, & well known MS-13 Gang Members, back into our Galaxy. You're not the Rebellion — you're the Empire. May the 4th be with you.'
While the caption appears to cast Trump in the role of a heroic Jedi, the red lightsaber has left many observers puzzled, as it symbolizes the Sith — the very villains the message seeks to denounce. This contradiction raised questions about whether the meme unintentionally glorified the figures it aimed to condemn.
This post followed a prior controversy where Trump, who is not Catholic, shared a photo of himself depicted as the Pope. The White House account reshared the image, drawing swift criticism, particularly from Catholic leaders. The New York State Catholic Conference responded on X, saying: 'There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.'
Pope Francis passed away on April 21. Trump later drew further criticism for stating he was looking forward to attending the funeral and wearing a blue suit instead of the traditional black.
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