“Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill dropped by the White House on Friday for a visit with President Joe Biden and walked away with a pair of the president’s aviator sunglasses and a greater respect for the office. “I love the merch,” he said, taking off the glasses during a quick appearance at the White House daily press briefing following his visit with Biden. Hamill, 72, famous for playing Luke Skywalker, kidded with reporters that he’d take a few questions — as long as they weren’t about “Star Wars.”
Quick Read
- Mark Hamill’s White House Visit: “Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill visited the White House on Friday, where he met with President Joe Biden. During his visit, Hamill, who is known for his role as Luke Skywalker and his voice work as the Joker in “Batman: The Animated Series,” toured the Oval Office for the first time and received a pair of Biden’s iconic aviator sunglasses.
- Interaction with Biden: Hamill shared a light-hearted moment with Biden, suggesting he could call the president “Joe-bi-Wan Kenobi,” which Biden appreciated. The visit wasn’t specifically tied to any publicized event, but it provided Hamill with a greater respect for the presidential office.
- Political Engagement: Hamill, a vocal Democrat and supporter of Biden, has been active on social media regarding the president’s reelection campaign. His visit coincides with his posts that support Biden and criticize Donald Trump’s actions regarding the 2020 election.
- “Star Wars” Day Reference: The visit occurred close to “Star Wars” Day, celebrated unofficially on May 4th (“May the fourth be with you”), linking Hamill’s iconic role to the timing of his visit.
- Humanitarian Involvement: Aside from entertainment, Hamill is also involved in humanitarian efforts, lending his voice to the “Air Alert” app, which warns Ukrainians of aerial bombardments during the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The Associated Press has the story:
‘Star Wars’ actor Mark Hamill drops by White House for a visit with ‘Joe-bi-Wan Kenobi’
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP) —
“Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill dropped by the White House on Friday for a visit with President Joe Biden and walked away with a pair of the president’s aviator sunglasses and a greater respect for the office.
“I love the merch,” he said, taking off the glasses during a quick appearance at the White House daily press briefing following his visit with Biden. Hamill, 72, famous for playing Luke Skywalker, kidded with reporters that he’d take a few questions — as long as they weren’t about “Star Wars.”
“I was honored to be asked to come to the White House to meet the president,” he said. He’s been to the White House before, during the Carter and Obama administrations, but he’d never checked out the Oval Office, and that was quite something, he said. Biden showed off photographs and other Oval Office items, Hamill said.
Hamill said Biden told him to call him “Joe,” to which Hamill offered an alternative suggestion: “Can I call you Joe-bi-Wan Kenobi?”
“He liked that,” said Hamill, who also voiced the Joker in “Batman: The Animated Series.”
Both Hamill and the White House were vague about his reason for visiting. But Hamill, a Democrat and Biden supporter with a huge social media following, has been posting about the president’s reelection campaign this week.
“May The First Not Quench Your Thirst For Biden’s Re-election!” he wrote on May 1.
On Friday he posted, “May The Third Be Absurd That The Guy Who Tried To Steal A Fair Election Is Allowed To Run Again,” a reference to Donald Trump and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
May 4th is unofficially “Star Wars” Day, in part because of the famous Jedi phrase “May the force be with you.” The pun goes, “May the fourth be with you.”
Hamill also lent his voice to “Air Alert” — a downloadable app linked to Ukraine’s air defense system. His voice urges people to take cover whenever Russia unleashes another aerial bombardment on Ukraine.
