Hours after US President Donald Trump announced that he is directing his government to reopen and expand a notorious former prison, Alcatraz, that has been closed for more than 60 years, the White House shared an AI-generated image of Trump as a muscular lightsaber-wielding hero leading a fight against "dangerous prisoners". He was flanked by two bald eagles -- the national bird of the country.
The official presidential communication stated, "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."
May 4 is celebrated as Star Wars Day, an informal holiday celebrating the space epic and its surrounding franchise. It was created by fans as a sly nod to one of the films’ most popular catchphrases, “May the force be with you.”
The phrase “May the 4th be with you” was used by fans in the years after the first film was released in 1977, and even appeared in a British political ad in 1979 celebrating Margaret Thatcher’s victory as prime minister on May 4 that year.
Last year, even former President Joe Biden marked the day when Star Wars actor Mark Hamill dropped by the White House a day beforehand.
Internet reacts to Trump wielding a red lightsaber
The White House's post on Trump drew incredulous reactions from social media users. While one section of them could not believe that the President's official communication could be presented as a meme, another section found it suitable that Trunp chose a red lightsaber that is traditionally wielded by antagonists in the Star Wars franchise.
"You idiots DO realize that this shit is considered official presidential communication and gets stored forever in the Library of Congress, right? Do you WANT historians to point to this period as the dumbest in American history?" commented BonkDaCarnivore (@BonkDaCarnivore). "Seriously?! You guys are the official account for the government, and this is the sh** you decide to pull?! You’re a laughing stock!" wrote Fi (@rahhead01).
An X user, however, was quick to point out that the red stood for Republican Party. "Red is literally one of the three colors in our nation’s flag. He is the leader of the Republican Party which is often ascribed the color Red. Context matters," added Patrick Nealis (@Patrick_Nealis).
Trump orders the reopening of Alcatraz prison to house the nation’s most violent offender
In a post on his Truth Social site Sunday evening, Trump wrote that, “For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
“That is why, today," he said, “I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders.”
Trump’s directive to rebuild and reopen the long-shuttered penitentiary was the latest salvo in his effort to overhaul how and where federal prisoners and immigration detainees are locked up. But such a move would likely be an expensive and challenging proposition. The prison was closed in 1963 due to crumbling infrastructure and the high costs of repairing and supplying the island facility, because everything from fuel to food had to be brought by boat.
(With inputs from AP)
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