White House Causes Stir with ‘Sith Lord’ Trump Image on May the Fourth
On May 4, fans around the world came together to celebrate Star Wars Day, an unofficial holiday that has grown to include festivities and references from across the galaxy. For more than a decade, people have greeted one another with the iconic phrase “May the Fourth be with you,” a clever twist on the famous “May the Force be with you.”
Star Wars enthusiasts also share their love for the saga across social media, dressing up, sharing quotes, and enjoying Star Wars-themed content.
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While Star Wars fans celebrated on their own terms, the White House took the opportunity to join in on the fun, albeit in a controversial manner. The official White House X (formerly Twitter) account took to social media to post an altered image of former President Donald Trump, wielding a red lightsaber, set against a backdrop of bald eagles and American flags.
The post quickly gained traction for its bold imagery and the politically charged message accompanying it. What was meant as a nod to Star Wars Day became the subject of significant debate, with people on all sides weighing in on its meaning and implications.
Happy May the 4th to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are fighting so hard to 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.
Happy May the 4th to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are fighting so hard to 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. pic.twitter.com/G883DhDRR5
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 4, 2025
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The White House Post: A Sith Lord in the Making
The image of Trump with a red lightsaber caught many off guard. Red lightsabers, after all, are traditionally associated with the Sith in Star Wars, characters known for their malevolence, ambition, and mastery of the Dark Side. This visual choice immediately raised eyebrows, especially considering the political message that accompanied the image.
This statement didn’t explicitly celebrate the joy of Star Wars; rather, it carried an accusatory tone toward political opponents, even though it appeared to compare the White House and Donald Trump to the First Order and Dark Side. The choice to tie a Star Wars reference to such an inflammatory political message did not go unnoticed.
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Reaction to the Post: Mixed Feelings from the Public
The post generated significant reactions across social media. While some supporters of the White House embraced the image, seeing it as a bold statement of strength and defiance, others were quick to point out the irony of the image. The Sith, after all, are considered the embodiment of tyranny and control, qualities that the post’s critics argued were more fitting for the image of Trump than they were for his political adversaries.
One prominent reaction came from @PHIZ15, who tweeted:
“So let me get this straight—you’re calling others the Empire while literally posting an image of yourself wielding a red lightsaber? That’s… the color of the Sith.”
So let me get this straight—you’re calling others the Empire while literally posting an image of yourself wielding a red lightsaber? That’s… the color of the Sith.
— Phizfifteen (@PHIZ15) May 4, 2025
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This tweet, which quickly went viral, highlighted the contradiction in the White House’s post, and it resonated with many fans of the Star Wars franchise who were disappointed by the lack of understanding of basic Star Wars lore. Red lightsabers, after all, have been symbols of the Sith and their dark side philosophy throughout the franchise. The symbolism was not lost on critics.
The Symbolism of Red Lightsabers
For Star Wars aficionados, the red lightsaber is deeply tied to power, aggression, and control. In the Star Wars universe, Sith Lords are known for forging red lightsabers by corrupting a kyber crystal with dark emotions like anger and hatred.
According to Ultrasabers, a custom lightsaber retailer, the red lightsaber is a symbol of these themes:
The origins and meaning of red lightsabers in Star Wars are deeply tied to power, aggression, and the unrelenting dominance of the Dark Side. Red lightsabers are notorious in Star Wars as a weapon carried by the most villainous of characters, the Sith. These villains had one life purpose: to eliminate the Jedi Order and gain control as tyrants throughout the galaxy.
In canon, when Sith obtained a natural kyber crystal, they would “bleed” it to change the color to red. This ritual involved pouring all of their anger, hatred, and rage into the crystal, corrupting it so completely that the red hue of the Dark Side overtook it. This practice became the dominant method for forging Sith crimson-bladed sabers, guaranteeing that each weapon embodied a red kyber crystal along with its wielder’s darkness and the intended red lightsaber meanings focused on power, rage, and domination.
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The symbolism of a red lightsaber in the context of a post that is attacking political opponents and using the imagery of tyranny was not lost on many Twitter users. Critics quickly pointed out the irony of using a Sith’s weapon to label opponents as the Empire, even though the Sith are synonymous with tyranny, oppression, and control.
A Star Wars Fan’s Perspective
For many fans, the White House’s attempt to engage with Star Wars Day felt disconnected from the spirit of the franchise. Star Wars, at its core, is about the fight between good and evil, with characters like Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia standing as symbols of hope, freedom, and the rebellion against oppressive forces. The Sith, on the other hand, represent all that is dark, oppressive, and authoritarian.
One X user, @LittleMissLizz, expressed frustration over the lack of basic Star Wars knowledge in the White House staff, asking:
“How do you not have one nerd on staff to tell you what color lightsaber is good and what color is bad???”
This tweet struck a chord with many, who felt that the White House, in attempting to leverage pop culture for political gain, missed the mark on what the Star Wars saga represents. Star Wars fans are among the most passionate in the world, and it seems that the use of such a prominent symbol, out of context, only added to the division.
How do you not have one nerd on staff to tell you what color lightsaber is good and what color is bad???
— The Sassiest Semite (@LittleMissLizz) May 4, 2025
As with many political moves, the White House’s post sparked a polarizing response. For some, it was a clever way to use a pop culture moment to make a bold political statement, and the visual of Trump as a Sith Lord was seen as powerful and defiant. For others, it seemed out of place, with critics arguing that it misused a beloved cultural symbol to serve a divisive political agenda.
So, what do you think of the White House’s May the Fourth post? Was it a clever use of Star Wars lore to make a point, or did it miss the mark by using the Sith as an allegory for the opposition? Was the use of the red lightsaber ironic, or was it an appropriate symbol for the message being conveyed?
Join the conversation in the comments below and share your thoughts on this controversial May the Fourth moment. What does Star Wars mean to you, and do you think the White House’s approach was fitting for the occasion?
