The latest installment in theStar Trekfranchise is being criticized online, including from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who has called for the return of William Shatner to “save” the series.
Miller reacted to a viral clip fromStar Trek: Starfleet Academyby reposting commentary from the conservative X account End Wokeness, which had described the scene as “Beyond parody.”
“Tragic. But it’s not too late for @paramountplus to save the franchise. Step 1: Reconcile with @WilliamShatner and give him total creative control,” Miller wrote.
Miller’s wife, Katie Miller, echoed the sentiment with a brief post of her own, writing: “Go woke. Go broke.”
Tech billionaire Elon Musk commented on the criticism, responding to the viral clip with a sarcastic post saying, “Turns out they banned Ozempic and LASIK in the future lol.”
The new Paramount+ series premiered Jan. 15 and follows a diverse group of young cadets training at Starfleet Academy under the leadership of Chancellor Nahla Ake, played by Oscar-winning actress Holly Hunter.
While critics have generally responded favorably — the series holds an 85–86% “Certified Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes — audience reception has been more mixed.
The backlash has largely centered on the show’s tone, dialogue, and emphasis on diversity. Conservative social media accounts such as End Wokeness and Nerdrotic circulated clips featuring Hunter and other female cast members, with many comments criticizing the series as “woke.”
Some online users also shared altered promotional images reading “Starfleet Learing Academy,” a reference to a misspelled Minnesota daycare sign that recently went viral for unrelated reasons.
Despite criticisms, cast members and longtime Star Trek figures have pushed back against the “anti-woke” narrative.
Actress Gina Yashere, who appears in the series, defended the franchise during a CNN appearance, saying: “Woke is a good word. It’s been given negative connotations. But woke just means you’re awake and aware of everything that’s going on in the world around you.”
Entertainment outletDeadlinemocked Miller’s comments in his support for Shatner, a Canadian citizen.
Deadlinewriter Dominic Patten wrote: “Turns out Miller, one of the primary proponents of the Trump administration’s often cruel, violent and seemingly indiscriminate immigration policy, also has a soft spot for at least one non-citizen who has lived in America for decades. Yep, that’s you William Shatner!”
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) press office also responded to the controversy, posting a tongue-in-cheek message on X: “Stephen Miller saw an alien on the bridge and started drafting an executive order.”
Shatner, now 94, famously played Captain James T. Kirk in the originalStar Trekseries, its animated follow-up, and seven feature films.
Whether the season’s remaining nine episodes will shift fan opinion remains to be seen, but the series has already reignited a familiar cultural debate over the direction of one of science fiction’s most iconic franchises.
