Twitter is eviscerating Trump over his “Space Force” comment, as it should
Another day, another outlandish remark from President Donald Trump. The same president who brought us “covfefe” and “bigly” suggested yesterday, March 13th, that the United States is in need of a “Space Force” to go along with our Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Trump first floated the idea at a San Diego Marine Corps base, where he was discussing his plan to to send astronauts to Mars. He stated (incorrectly) that his opponent in the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton, would not have attempted to explore the red planet. Trump then continued by saying that “space is a war-fighting domain, just like the land, air, and sea,” and that it warranted its own branch of the military. The president said he initially suggested a Space Force as a joke, but the more he thought about it, the more he became convinced.
"I said, 'maybe we need a new force, we'll call it the Space Force,' and I was not really serious," Trump said in his speech before a crowd of Marines. "Then I said, 'what a great idea,' maybe we'll have to do that."
Twitter, however, was less enthusiastic.
I wonder if Stephen Hawking died laughing when he heard about Trump’s Space Force.
— Quinn Sutherland (@ReelQuinn) March 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/973911986101768192
Space Force preparing for their first space battle. pic.twitter.com/QReQ5w3OEj
— pokey pup (@Whatapityonyou) March 13, 2018
false false
Naturally, there were some pop culture references.
"Luke, use the Space Force." — Darth "Space" Vader
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) March 14, 2018
NEW video of the policy development process for Trump's #SpaceForce –> pic.twitter.com/Lhr2Y8Yucc
— Jesse Ferguson (@JesseFFerguson) March 13, 2018
Breaking: Trump taps Darth Vader to lead his #SpaceForce. pic.twitter.com/ygv81MKonq
— Simar (@sahluwal) March 13, 2018
And others pointed out that we may already have a Space Force.
I thought NASA WAS the "Space Force?"
— Ford W Maverick (@FordWMaverick) March 14, 2018
But some saw logic in Trump’s suggestion.
Allow me to asplain. See, it suddenly might occur to someone, who was talking about making a wall so tall you can't get over it, that you will always be able to get over it, even if you build it to the sky. Therefore: Space Force.
— Christopher Moore (@TheAuthorGuy) March 14, 2018
*comes back in*
Okay, but I have long thought that Trumpism is the political version of Scientology and I think this #spaceforce thing is like his Space Org don't @ me.— Maureen Johnson (@maureenjohnson) March 13, 2018
The idea of a Space Force sounds a bit ridiculous. After all, as far as we know there aren’t any space wars being waged at the moment. But Trump’s idea has apparently been proposed before. According to The Atlantic, In 2017, the House Armed Services Committee approved a “space corps” that would oversee military operations in space (they do exist). The Senate vetoed the measure, however. And additionally, the Air Force, which currently handles space missions like controlling satellites, is strongly opposed to the idea of a space corps.
Until Star Wars can film in space — or Trump at least clarifies how he would create a Space Force, we’re going to assume that this probably won’t happen. But in the meantime, at least we have another out-of-this-world meme to enjoy.