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space-iconSpace and Physics
clock-iconPUBLISHEDJune 20, 2018

Trump Has Ordered A "Space Force" And The Jokes Are Practically Writing Themselves

Dr. Katie Spalding headshot

Dr. Katie Spalding

Katie has a PhD in maths, specializing in the intersection of dynamical systems and number theory. She reports on topics from maths and history to society and animals.

Freelance Writer

Katie has a PhD in maths, specializing in the intersection of dynamical systems and number theory. She reports on topics from maths and history to society and animals.View full profile

Katie has a PhD in maths, specializing in the intersection of dynamical systems and number theory. She reports on topics from maths and history to society and animals.

View full profile
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NBC / IFLScience


It just wouldn’t be 2018 without the President making some bizarre proclamation each week.

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The latest caper, ordered by Trump at a meeting of the National Space Council on Monday, is the creation of a sixth military branch – and he’s calling it the “Space Force”.

Describing his desire for “American dominance in space”, he said that his new branch “is going to be something. So important.” Controversially, he described the Space Force as “separate but equal” to the Air Force, using language that some have pointed out echoes historical US policies enforcing racial segregation.

After describing what he sees as the dangers of immigration, the President also promised to send Americans to the Moon, and eventually to Mars.

Unsurprisingly, the Internet has taken the new presidential instruction and treated it with the respect they think it deserves.

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 A few commentators have pointed out that this whole “space army” idea sounds a bit familiar.

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 Of course, there were some jokes that everybody noticed.

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 And some people just wanted to remind us that this was no laughing matter.

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This is not the first time Trump has brought up the idea of a Space Force – the Internet already had some fun when he floated the idea back in May…

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 …and March…

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…but this doesn’t seem to have deterred him from the idea. Among all the jokes – and more serious criticism – however, one ex-astronaut pointed out perhaps the biggest problem of all with the plan.  

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