On Monday, President Donald Trump directed the Department of Defense (DOD) to create a sixth branch of the military, a “Space Force.” While the president briefly mentioned Russia and China, he appeared vague as to which enemy such a force would fight, and he emphasized space as a “frontier” to be “tamed.”
Some suggested, perhaps jokingly, that Trump may know something Americans don’t — that aliens exist and that they pose a threat to humanity.
“Trump wouldn’t create a Space Force for no reason,” tweeted Austin Petersen, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Missouri. “That must mean that Area 51 really does have proof of aliens and the president is just being prepared.”
Trump wouldn't create a Space Force for no reason. That must mean that Area 51 really does have proof of aliens and the president is just being prepared. pic.twitter.com/0OlPlEOCRV
— Austin Petersen (@AP4Liberty) June 19, 2018
“I’m not saying aliens exist, but creating a sixth branch of the military called Space Force is exactly what you’d do if you knew aliens existed and couldn’t tell people about them,” podcaster Kieran Shiach tweeted.
I’m not saying aliens exist, but creating a sixth branch of the military called Space Force is exactly what you’d do if you knew aliens existed and couldn’t tell people about them.
On the flip side, no way this fucker could keep aliens secret.
— Kieran (@KingImpulse) June 18, 2018
Trump’s announcement seemed more optimistic and groundbreaking than militaristic. “My administration is reclaiming America’s heritage as the world’s greatest space-faring nation,” the president declared. “The essence of the American character is to explore new horizons and to tame new frontiers. But our destiny, beyond the Earth, is not only a matter of national identity, but a matter of national security.”
“When it comes to defending America, it is not enough to merely have an American presence in space. We must have American dominance in space,” Trump declared. “I’m hereby directing the Department of Defense and the Pentagon to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a space force as the sixth branch of the armed forces.”
The president insisted that his administration would go beyond merely venturing into space, and actually begin the process of conquering it. If he knew that aliens existed, this is exactly what he would say…
“This time, we will do more than plant our flag and leave our footprints. We will establish a long-term presence, expand our economy, and build the foundation for the eventual mission to Mars — which is actually going to happen very quickly,” Trump said.
“Our nation of pioneers still yearns to conquer the unknown, because we are Americans and the future belongs totally to us,” the president added. “Once more, we will launch intrepid souls blazing through the sky and soaring into the heavens. Once more, we will summon the American spirit to tame the next great American frontier.”
“And once more, we will proudly lead humanity — and that’s what it is, it’s humanity — beyond the Earth and into those forbidden skies, but they will not be forbidden for long,” Trump declared.
Most likely, aliens do not exist, and Trump has no intention of fighting aliens in outer space. He insisted that space exploration is “important for our psyche” as Americans, and “we don’t want China and Russia and other countries leading us.”
Everett Dolman, a professor of comparative military studies at the U.S. Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College, said space was indeed becoming a new frontier in the fight between the U.S., Russia, and China.
“The next great power war will most likely start in space,” Dolman told Late Night Live recently. He warned that Russia and China had developed highly sophisticated anti-satellite weapons, which could take down key U.S. assets like radar and GPS.
“War on Earth has been expanding out into space since 1991, and the United States is the most space reliant military in the world,” Dolman said. “If it wants to keep its advantages it has to have space … our competitors know this.”
The space realm is indeed serious, but the Air Force already has a space division, and Air Force leaders have resisted the push toward a Space Force. Congress has been debating the issue, and some have argued the move to create a Space Force requires congressional approval.
The president told a US general to create a new Space Force as 6th branch of military today, which generals tell me they don’t want. Thankfully the president can’t do it without Congress because now is NOT the time to rip the Air Force apart. Too many important missions at stake. https://t.co/uYzqg1W8nE
— Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) June 18, 2018
Trump’s message focused more on frontiers than on foreign threats.
Trump’s single reference to Russia and China certainly seems odd, given that Russia and China seem the natural threats in this context. The Space Force will require a great deal more explanation, and likely congressional authorization. Until that time, U.S. Senate candidates like Austin Petersen will ask (tongue-in-cheek, of course) whether this Space Force suggests an alien threat.
Naturally, it is always possible that Trump just wants to be a Jedi.
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