Stormtroopers and R2-D2 visit the White House for ‘Star Wars’ screening
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest with Stormtroopers and R2-D2 at a Friday morning press briefing.
Stormtroopers on Friday set foot in the White House.
Don’t be alarmed. It wasn’t only those who belong to the dark side who penetrated the nation’s capital on the official opening day of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
As this tweet from the first lady makes clear, the chirpy and charismatic droid R2-D2 received a grand welcoming to the White House as well. Unknown, however, is whether he was searched for carrying a light saber before entering.
FULL COVERAGE: ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’
The occasion? Visitors from a galaxy far, far away were on hand to celebrate a White House screening of “The Force Awakens” for military families. The president appeared to be excited to see the film. President Obama ended his Friday morning press briefing with these words: “OK, everybody, I’ve got to get to ‘Star Wars.’ ”
The Stormtroopers and R2-D2 even joined White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest for a brief photo opportunity.
These were far from the only indications that “Star Wars” fever had gripped our nation’s capital. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan sent out a press release that compared Obama’s team to the evil empire of the “Star Wars” films. “The Force,” it wrote, was strong with former Speaker John A. Boehner.
There’s more. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted a fundraising plea dubbed “Senate Wars” and stylized the text as opening crawl from the space fantasy films. “It is an uncertain time in our galaxy,” read the post before it criticized Republican policies.
The Jedi council, meanwhile, remained silent on this particular political divide.
MORE:
‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ smashes ‘Harry Potter’ Thursday box office record
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Harrison Ford on reuniting with Han’s blaster, and forgiving Lawrence Kasdan for the Ewoks
J.J. Abrams on going old school and how ‘Star Wars’ differs from ‘Star Trek’
Star Wars screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan on the past, present and future of ‘Star Wars’
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