White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller has become the subject of widespread derision after setting his sights on an unlikely new target: the long-running science fiction franchise Star Trek.
A Bold Intervention on Social Media
The controversy began on Friday 16 January 2026, when Miller responded on social media platform X to a clip from Paramount+'s latest series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. The clip was posted by the right-wing account End Wokeness, which labelled the 2026 show "Beyond parody…", apparently objecting to a scene featuring three female characters in conversation.
Miller, a 40-year-old former Trump administration official, agreed, writing "Tragic." He then proposed a solution to 'save' the franchise. "But it’s not too late for Paramount+ to save the franchise. Step 1: Reconcile with William Shatner and give him total creative control," he declared.
Why Miller's Plan Was Met With Instant Ridicule
The suggestion was immediately met with a wave of mockery online, with critics highlighting several glaring issues. Firstly, William Shatner, who originated the role of Captain James T. Kirk in the series that first aired in 1966, is now 94 years old. Secondly, he is a Canadian citizen who publicly opposed former President Donald Trump's rhetoric about annexing Canada.
Most pointedly, commentators noted the profound irony of Miller, known for his hardline anti-immigration stance, trying to 'reclaim' a franchise built on progressive, multicultural ideals. Star Trek famously featured U.S. television's first scripted interracial kiss between Shatner's Kirk and Nichelle Nichols' Uhura in 1968 and has always championed diversity and optimism about humanity's future.
High-Profile Jabs and Ironic Nostalgia
California Governor Gavin Newsom led the political mockery, quipping: "Stephen Miller saw an alien on the bridge and started drafting an executive order." Entertainment outlet Deadline suggested Miller was "more aligned with Next Generation’s Borg than the Original Series" and might simply object to seeing women in command.
The incident took a further ironic turn when old photos of a young Stephen Miller dressed in a Starfleet uniform resurfaced online, prompting one user to lament, "If only Stephen Miller were still a Star Trek fan."
Meanwhile, production on a second series of Starfleet Academy, starring Holly Hunter and Tig Notaro, is reportedly already underway at Pinewood Toronto Studios, continuing the legacy Miller sought to challenge.
