{"id":2539615,"date":"2026-01-16T17:30:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T22:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stephen-miller-joins-backlash-against-star-trek-spinoff\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T17:32:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T22:32:23","slug":"stephen-miller-joins-backlash-against-star-trek-spinoff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stephen-miller-joins-backlash-against-star-trek-spinoff\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen Miller joins backlash against Star Trek spinoff"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fstephen-miller-joins-backlash-against-star-trek-spinoff%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2539615&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Stephen Miller criticized the new paramount+ spinoff Star Trek: Starfleet Academy after a viral clip,urging the streamer to reconcile with William Shatner and give the 94-year-old actor creative control to &#8220;save&#8221; the franchise. Miller reposted commentary from conservative account End Wokeness; his wife Katie Miller echoed the sentiment (&#8220;Go woke. Go broke&#8221;), and Elon Musk mocked the clip.The series, which premiered Jan. 15 and stars Holly Hunter as Chancellor nahla Ake, follows a diverse group of young cadets. Critics have generally liked it (about an 85-86% &#8220;Certified Fresh&#8221; score on Rotten Tomatoes), but audience reaction has been mixed, with conservative commentators attacking the showS tone and emphasis on diversity. Posts from opponents highlighted alleged low early viewership and high production costs per episode, while cast members such as Gina Yashere defended the series and pushed back against &#8220;anti-woke&#8221; claims. The dispute has provoked satire and commentary from outlets and public figures,reigniting debate over the direction of the long-running franchise.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Stephen Miller joins backlash against Star Trek spinoff, calls for William Shatner&rsquo;s return<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_880277\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The latest installment in the <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/star-trek\/\">Star Trek<\/a> <\/em>franchise is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/i\/trending\/2011286256953487381\">being criticized online<\/a>, including from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\">White House<\/a> Deputy Chief of Staff <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/stephen-miller\/\">Stephen Miller<\/a>, who has called for the return of William Shatner to &ldquo;save&rdquo; the series.<\/p>\n<p>Miller reacted to a viral clip from <em>Star Trek: Starfleet Academy<\/em> by reposting commentary from the conservative X account End Wokeness, which had described the scene as &ldquo;Beyond parody.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4418598\/trump-housing-market-populism\/\">Trump administration aims to prevent private equity from buying individual homes and driving up prices<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4413953\/price-controls-wont-work-better-credit-cards-than-groceries\/\">Price controls won&#8217;t work better on credit cards than groceries<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4420813\/verizon-compensates-outage-20-dollar-voucher\/\">Verizon compensates for outage with $20 voucher<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Tragic. But it&rsquo;s not too late for @paramountplus to save the franchise. Step 1: Reconcile with @WilliamShatner and give him total creative control,&rdquo; Miller wrote. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Tragic. But it&rsquo;s not too late for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/paramountplus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@paramountplus<\/a> to save the franchise. Step 1: Reconcile with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WilliamShatner?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@WilliamShatner<\/a> and give him total creative control. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HRMDcYeBnU\">https:\/\/t.co\/HRMDcYeBnU<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Stephen Miller (@StephenM) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/StephenM\/status\/2011953450104365511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 16, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Miller&rsquo;s wife, Katie Miller, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KatieMiller\/status\/2011841941282177224\">echoed<\/a> the sentiment with a brief post of her own, writing: &ldquo;Go woke. Go broke.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Tech billionaire Elon Musk commented on the criticism, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/elonmusk\/status\/2010493226751320262\">responding<\/a> to the viral clip with a sarcastic post saying, &ldquo;Turns out they banned Ozempic and LASIK in the future lol.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>While critics have generally responded favorably &mdash; the series holds an 85&ndash;86% &ldquo;Certified Fresh&rdquo; score on Rotten Tomatoes &mdash; audience reception has been more mixed.<\/p>\n<p>The backlash has largely centered on the show&rsquo;s tone, dialogue, and emphasis on diversity. Conservative social media accounts such as End Wokeness and Nerdrotic circulated clips featuring Hunter and other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/snl-faces-calls-to-be-canceled-because-its-awful-after-mocking-rogan-cruz-embarrassing-and-sad\/\" title=\"SNL Faces Calls To Be Canceled \u2018Because It\u2019s Awful\u2019 After Mocking Rogan, Cruz: \u2018Embarrassing And Sad\u2019\">female cast members<\/a>, with many comments criticizing the series as &ldquo;woke.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Some online users also <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >shared altered promotional images reading &#038;ldquo<\/a>;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/robbystarbuck\/status\/2011913103898784196\">Starfleet Learing Academy<\/a>,&rdquo; a reference to a misspelled Minnesota daycare sign that recently went viral for unrelated reasons.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">As <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Nerdrotics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Nerdrotics<\/a> pointed out, Paramount spent 6-10 MILLION per episode on the new Star Trek. They spent a ton on ads. First episode was free on YouTube and less than 28,000 people watched it in the first 18 hours. Fake fireplace videos get more views. Wokeness + DEI=Destruction. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bGI36VRUmL\">https:\/\/t.co\/bGI36VRUmL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/robbystarbuck\/status\/2011913103898784196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Despite criticisms, cast members and longtime Star Trek figures have pushed back against the &ldquo;anti-woke&rdquo; narrative.<\/p>\n<p>Actress Gina Yashere, who appears in the series, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CNNTheStoryIs\/status\/2011406986303398044\">defended<\/a> the franchise during a CNN appearance, saying: &ldquo;Woke is a good word. It&rsquo;s been given negative connotations. But woke just means you&rsquo;re awake and aware of everything that&rsquo;s going on in the world around you.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&ldquo;Star Trek has been woke from day one. Woke is a good word,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ginayashere?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ginayashere<\/a> said. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Star Trek&rdquo; is turning 60 years old this year. Gina Yashere, comedian and actress of &ldquo;Star Trek: Starfleet Academy&rdquo; joined <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Elex_Michaelson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Elex_Michaelson<\/a>  for an interview. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/StarTrek?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#StarTrek<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rxHcL7Ly6e\">pic.twitter.com\/rxHcL7Ly6e<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; The Story Is (@CNNTheStoryIs) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CNNTheStoryIs\/status\/2011406986303398044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 14, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Entertainment outlet <em>Deadline<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/01\/stephen-miller-star-trek-advice-1236684772\/\">mocked<\/a> Miller&rsquo;s comments in his support for Shatner, a Canadian citizen.<\/p>\n<p><em>Deadline<\/em> writer Dominic Patten wrote: &ldquo;Turns out Miller, one of the primary proponents of the Trump administration&rsquo;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&rsquo;s you William Shatner!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\">Gavin Newsom<\/a>&rsquo;s (D-CA) press office also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GovPressOffice\/status\/2011980376038666453\">responded to the controversy,<\/a> posting a tongue-in-cheek message on X: &ldquo;Stephen Miller saw an alien on the bridge and started drafting an executive order.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Stephen Miller saw an alien on the bridge and started drafting an executive order. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xWygWEZvz2\">https:\/\/t.co\/xWygWEZvz2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GovPressOffice\/status\/2011980376038666453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 16, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/129258\/william-shatner-says-at-91-his-time-is-limited-and-doesnt-have-long-to-live\/\"><strong>WILLIAM SHATNER SAYS AT 91 HIS TIME IS &lsquo;LIMITED&rsquo; AND &lsquo;DOESN&rsquo;T HAVE LONG TO LIVE&rsquo;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Shatner, now 94, famously played Captain James T. Kirk in the original <em>Star Trek<\/em> series, its animated follow-up, and seven feature films.<\/p>\n<p>Whether the season&rsquo;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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/do-the-alien-franchises-anti-corporate-themes-still-work\/\" title=\"Do The &#039;Alien&#039; ...&#039;s Anti-Corporate Themes Still Work?\">science fiction&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s most iconic franchises.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Miller joins Trek backlash, urges Shatner return<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2678,"featured_media":2539616,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/stephen-miller-shatner-star-trek-image-collage-ks74pgb3x-1768597628505-e1768599577241.jpg?1768583611&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[50410,14890,5894,71189,48816],"class_list":["post-2539615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-controversy-2","tag-entertainment","tag-politics","tag-star-trek-spinoff","tag-stephen-miller"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/stephen-miller-shatner-star-trek-image-collage-ks74pgb3x-1768597628505-e1768599577241.jpg?1768583611&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2539615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2678"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2539615"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2539615\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2539620,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2539615\/revisions\/2539620"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2539616"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2539615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2539615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2539615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}