United States Space Force
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About
United States Space Force refers to a directive from United States President Donald Trump to create a sixth branch of the American military to cover matters of outer space, known as the Space Force. Following the announcement, the directive was widely mocked online, with critics claiming it would be difficult to make the branch a reality and pointing to other problems facing the United States as more pressing.
Origin
On June 18th, 2018, Donald Trump announced that he had ordered the creation of a Space Force, a sixth branch of the American Military, describing it as "separate but equal" to the Air Force.[1] Trump had mentioned wanting to create a Space Force a month prior.[5]
Very importantly, I’m hereby directing the Department of Defense and Pentagon to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces. We are going to have the Air Force and we are going to have the Space Force--separate but equal. It is going to be something. So important.
Spread
Critics were quick to criticize both the announcement and the way Trump announced it. CNN[1] noted that Trump calling the Space Force "separate but equal" to the Air Force harkened back to the phrase "separate but equal" which was used to justify the segregation of white and black Americans in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Daily Dot[2] noted that it was unlikely the creation would happen as it needs to be approved from congress. They noted some congresspeople already stated they would not approve funding of such a force (tweet shown below). Vox wrote of the challenges of creating a Space Force as well.[3]
Meanwhile, internet users mocked the idea, pointing out both the perceived absurdity of the idea and criticizing the cost it would take as opposed to other problems in the country. Novelty Twitter Account @DepressedVader, which tweets in the voice of Darth Vader from Star Wars, offered its services to head the Space Force, gaining over 4,100 retweets and 12,000 likes (shown below, left). User @jdlovitz posted pictures of Star Trek casts, gaining over 320 retweets and 1,300 likes (shown below, right).
Twitter users who pointed out the monetary waste in regards to other problems facing the country included user @keithboykin who pointed out the administration claimed to be able to create a space force but could not give power to Puerto Rico or clean water to Flint, Michigan (shown below, left). User @stephens_ben tweeted jobs the Space Force could do that also addressed problems including Flint, Puerto Rico, and the Family Separations occurring at the US Border (shown below, right).
On Reddit, a thread in /r/Space about the announcement gained over 59,000 points.[4]
August 2018 Announcement
On August 9th, 2018, Vice President "Mike Pence": delivered an announcement about Space Force, revealing he would serve as chairman of the National Space Council (shown below).
.
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) August 9, 2018POTUS</a>’ highest priority is the safety & security of the American people. And while too often previous administrations all but neglected the growing security threats emerging in space, <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">POTUS stated clearly that space is “a war-fighting domain, just like the land, air & sea." pic.twitter.com/t6UunHsaYr
Shortly after, President Trump tweeted "Space Force all the way!" (shown below). That day, the tweet received more than 69,800 likes and 20,000 retweets.
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign sent out an email to subscribers asking for supporters to vote on a Space Force logo that would be displayed on merchandise (shown below).
Roger Stone Tweet
On August 13th, 2018, long-time unofficial Trump adviser and confidant Roger Stone posted an image of various members of the Trump administration in space suits on Instagram. The image features Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Reprsentative Devin Nunes, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Vice President Mike Pence and Fox News commentators Sean Hannity wearing space suits with a swastika on the chest. Stone captioned the photograph (shown below), "I love this – proud to be in this crew – but the only lies being told are by liberal scumbags #maga #republican #infowars." Shortly after, Stone deleted the post.[6]
Netflix Adaptation
On January 16th, 2019, Netflix released the first teaser trailer for the TV series Space Force inspired by Trump's directive for a sixth branch of the military (shown below). The Series will be a work-place centered comedy starring Steve Carell.[7]
Various Examples
Search Interest
External References
[1] CNN – Trump Space Force and Air Force will be 'separate but equal'
[2] Daily Dot – Trump announces a space army that won’t ever happen
[3] Vox – Trump really, really wants troops in space
[5] CNN – Trump pushes idea of adding 'Space Force' to US military
[6] The Daily Dot – Roger Stone Shares Meme Of Him In The Space Force Wearing A Swastika
