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Space Force Uniforms Inspired by Starship Troopers Spark Controversy
Confirmed
In Short: President Trump shared a design for the next generation of Space Force uniforms, inspired by the film Starship Troopers, leading to criticism and debate.
President Donald Trump shared a design for the next generation of Space Force uniforms, inspired by the film Starship Troopers, a science-fiction movie read as a satire of fascism and militarism. According to reports, the design includes a sleek, charcoal-colored collared jacket and pants with a black belt, black boots, and a matching cap, featuring the Space Force Delta symbol in various places.
The design was shared on social media, with some users picking up on the inspiration and comparing it to other space films. Healthcare advocate Melanie D'Arrigo wrote on X, 'Designing the Space Force uniforms to look like the evil bad guys from Star Wars, who are led by an elderly, power hungry tyrant, who lose, repeatedly, is a bit too on brand, no?
Menswear writer Derek Guy posted, 'This is the kind of design costume designers make to tell you who are the bad guys in a space movie.' The reference to Starship Troopers, a film directed by Paul Verhoeven and criticized as a criticism of fascism and militarism, has sparked debate among social media users.
Some conservative voices also chimed in, noting the similarity to Star Wars uniforms. A political X account sarcastically wrote, 'No Nazi vibes here.' It remains unclear if Trump will actually push to change the design of Space Force uniforms or if the graphic was just part of one of his regular social media sprees.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- Newsweek reached out to the White House and Space Force for comment via email on Monday and is awaiting responses.
- Space Force said feedback from Guardians had helped shape its design and fit.
- Space Force’s Delta emblem appears in several places, including the collar, cap, belt buckle and sleeve patch.
- Labels on the graphic describe a color palette of "space gray," "midnight black," "silver gray" and "satin black." It was unclear from the post whether the graphic represents a formal proposal that the administration intends to pursue, or if Trump had simply shared a social media graphic.
- Text accompanying the design says it was "inspired by the discipline and functionality of the Starship Trooper uniform" and had been modernized for Space Force personnel, who are known as Guardians.
- The reference is to Starship Troopers, director Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 movie about young soldiers fighting giant alien creatures in a future society governed by the United Citizen Federation.
- The service formally introduced its current design in January 2026 after previously using a modified Air Force uniform.