Pennsylvania Republican Doug Mastriano is facing some heat after posting a picture of what appears to be a Star Wars prop instead of one of the mysterious drones that are flying around the East Coast this month.
The meme the politician shared on the social media platform X includes a picture of what looks like a replica of a TIE Fighter, which is a fictional spacecraft used by the Sith Empire’s Imperial Fleet and seen in the 1977 classic and first film Star Wars: A New Hope.
“Breaking News: Crashed drone in Orange Beach retrieved from water, and taken to undisclosed location for further investigation,” the meme’s caption reads.
Mastriano reposted the image with a serious comment on Tuesday.
“It is inconceivable that the federal government has no answers nor has taken any action to get to the bottom of the unidentified drones. The fecklessness of this administration was on display last year when a Chinese surveillance balloon was allowed to fly over the entire continental United States before being shot down. Such should be viewed as a threat to our nation and citizens and action is long overdue,” the Trump-backed lawmaker insisted.
It is inconceivable that the federal government has no answers nor has taken any action to get to the bottom of the unidentified drones. The fecklessness of this administration was on display last year when a Chinese surveillance balloon was allowed to fly over the entire… pic.twitter.com/qWqyH3dnkI
— Senator Doug Mastriano (@SenMastriano) December 16, 2024
“We have recourses and assets in our arsenal to get answers, but I suppose Ukraine is more important to the White House. January 20th can’t come soon enough,” Mastriano said.
The post has since garnered 2.7 million views and earned a Community note.
But, on Tuesday, Mastriano – who was backed by Donald Trump in his failed bid to become governor of Pennsylvania in 2022 – wrote to assure his more than 207,000 followers that he knew the image was a meme.
“I posted a statement about the drones and used an obvious Star Wars prop as a meme,” he said. “The Philadelphia Inquirer just called asking if I knew it was a prop. Hilarious. Modern day ‘journalism.’”
The newspaper reported that statement and that Mastriano said the “extreme left” needed a sense of humor.
But people responding to his Tuesday tweet weren’t so convinced.
“You 100 percent did not know it was a prop,” claimed user @JohnnyWalsh__.
“Not once while reading that caption did I think you knew it was a prop,” said @hossbo71.
— Senator Doug Mastriano (@SenMastriano) December 17, 2024
”Nice try, Doug,” wrote @kmartceo.
“No one believes you,” said @SilvermanJacob.
The drones did not appear to be related to the franchise in any of the videos that have been taken.
While it remains unclear where they are coming from specifically or why they are flying, authorities and the White House have assured people that they are “lawful” and “legal.”
The FBI, FAA, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security said recent drone sightings did not “present a national security or public safety risk.”
