William Shatner has ridiculed White House aide Stephen Miller for his apparent obsession with the politics of Star Trek.
Miller, who is Donald Trump’s White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor, took aim at the long-running science-fiction franchise this January.
The 41-year-old responded to a clip from Paramount+’s Star Trek: Starfleet Academy showing three female characters having a discussion. An account called EndWokeness had posted the video with the caption: “Star Trek 2026… Beyond parody…”
Miller added: “Tragic, But it’s not too late for Paramount+ to save the franchise. Step 1: Reconcile with William Shatner and give him total creative control.”
In a new interview with The Guardian, 95-year-old Shatner laughed at the idea of White House officials worrying about such matters, saying: “Can you imagine they’re watching TV, criticizing TV. I mean, it’s bizarre! I don’t understand it. I don’t know why they don’t – I don’t want to be political. I’m Canadian in America but it’s enthralling.”
Shatner went on to reject the idea that inclusiveness on Star Trek had gone “too far”, saying: “I don’t know what going too far is. Where’s the demarcation line? Who drew that line? ‘Now you’ve gone too far.’ Excuse me, I didn’t realize that. Where should I have stopped? And by the way, what is ‘woke’?”
Last year, Shatner spoke out passionately in opposition to President Donald Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric about making Canada the 51st American state.
Star Trek, since its inception, has been well known for its progressive values: emphasizing multicultural harmony, airing the first interracial kiss on U.S. television between Shatner’s Kirk and Nichelle Nichols’ Uhura in 1968, and taking a generally optimistic view of human nature.
Miller’s comments were mocked at the time by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who noted the jarring discrepancy between Miller’s passion for the show and his history of anti-immigrant sentiment.
“Stephen Miller saw an alien on the bridge and started drafting an executive order,” joked the Democrat.
Mark Altman, the co-director of Star Trek documentary The 60-Year Mission, told The Guardian that he finds it “shocking” that the series has fans in the White House.
“These deeply conservative fans like Stephen Miller say, ‘I’m a huge fan of Star Trek.’ How is that possible?” asked Altman. “Did they miss the memo that in reality, Star Trek abhorred war, and it always said that talking is the way to resolve conflict?”
