On Sunday, former US President Donald Trump shared an image of dark “next generation” Space Force uniforms, claiming they were inspired by the functional design of the “Starship Trooper” uniform. This design was intentionally reminiscent of Nazi aesthetics, according to the film’s director, Paul Verhoeven. Trump’s post included an AI-generated image of himself in space, with nuclear mushroom clouds in the background, alongside other AI depictions, like him in a decorated military uniform and suggesting a name change for “New Mexico” to “New America.”
The Space Force, established by Trump in 2019, had previously announced new service dress uniforms for its members, referred to as “Guardians.” However, the uniforms featured in Trump’s post—black boots, shirts, and “midnight black” collars—evoked the villainous imagery common in science fiction. Verhoeven emphasized that his film commentary on fascism was unintentional, as he depicted a militarized society oblivious to its oppressive nature.
