Each year on May 4th, fans across the world unite in celebration of all things Star Wars, and this time, Donald Trump wasn’t going to let the day pass quietly. With a flair for the theatrical and a love for stirring the pot, the former president leaned into the galactic festivities with his own brand of flair.

The Department of Defense joined in first, dropping a dramatic five-minute Star Wars-inspired video highlighting recent accomplishments. But while the video turned heads, it was something far more unexpected that really ignited online chaos.

From the official White House social media account came an image that looked ripped from a fan-fiction fever dream: a hyper-muscular, cartoonish Donald Trump gripping a lightsaber, flanked by two bald eagles and a backdrop of American flags. The caption wasn’t subtle either.

“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.”

The image spread like wildfire. Some laughed. Some winced. Others squinted at their screens wondering if the post was real. And the most debated detail? That glowing red lightsaber in Trump’s hand.

To anyone with even a basic understanding of Star Wars lore, the symbolism couldn’t be clearer. Red lightsabers are the signature weapon of the Sith — the franchise’s villains. As George Lucas once said, Jedi wield green and blue. The bad guys? Always red. So, while the post aimed to frame Trump as the hero, it accidentally dressed him up as the villain.

Social media erupted. One user commented, “You call the left the Empire and then give Trump a Sith lightsaber? That’s some Olympic-level irony.” Others tried to brush it off, noting red is the Republican Party’s color, but Star Wars fans weren’t buying it. After all, the saga offers a rainbow of lightsaber choices — green, purple, yellow — none of which come with villain baggage.

This wasn’t Trump’s first foray into AI-generated imagery either. Just recently, the White House drew backlash for posting an image of him dressed as the Pope — a move many found tasteless given the recent passing of Pope Francis. Trump responded casually when asked about it, claiming he had nothing to do with the image and suggesting critics simply “can’t take a joke.” His wife, Melania, apparently found the Pope image “cute.”

As with most things Trump, the May 4th post left the internet divided: some amused, some outraged, and many just bewildered. Whether a misstep or a calculated jab, it ensured one thing — no one would forget this year’s Star Wars Day in a galaxy not so far, far away.