Some MAGA supporters are invoking Anakin Skywalker as the 2026 midterm elections approach, presenting the Star Wars character as a symbol of disillusionment with the system. The trend has drawn criticism because Anakin becomes Darth Vader, an enforcer of the authoritarian Galactic Empire who kills children and helps terrorize the galaxy.
Elon Musk shared an AI-generated image imagining Anakin’s life had he not been defeated by Obi-Wan Kenobi. The post depicted Anakin alongside Padmé and their children, Luke and Leia, with imperial imagery. Musk captioned it, “This is what they stole from us”; a prominent reply called the post out for invoking a character associated with violence and authoritarianism.
Katie Miller, the wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, also referenced the character in a Halloween post, writing, “Find the Anakin in your life.” The post drew a reply criticizing the apparent admiration for someone who kills children.
The Anakin posts follow an earlier MAGA embrace of “Malfoid,” a meme based on Harry Potter character Draco Malfoy. The Department of Education had shared that meme before switching to an Anakin variant, according to the original report.
Right-wing streamer Kangmin Lee described Anakin as representing young men who believed the system was good before concluding it was not what it claimed to be. Critics point to the character’s eventual role as Darth Vader as a reason the comparison has been widely challenged.
Sources: Kotaku.