“Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill faced intense backlash after posting an image on Bluesky depicting President Donald Trump as deceased, just days after an assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.
The photo, which showed Trump lying over a grave with the caption “If Only,” prompted widespread condemnation.
Hamill’s post quickly drew criticism from the public and officials alike.
The actor had also written a caption saying Trump should live long enough to face political defeat and legal consequences, describing accountability and humiliation for alleged corruption and crimes.
Following the uproar, the White House issued a statement to Fox News Digital strongly denouncing the post.
Spokesman Davis Ingle called Hamill “a deranged lunatic” and questioned why Democrats and Barack Obama, who had recently appeared with Hamill in a video, had not condemned the act.
In response to the outrage, Hamill removed [1] the controversial post by Thursday and replaced it with a new photo of Trump featuring windswept hair.
The actor clarified that his intention had been misunderstood and sought to apologize.
His replacement post included the caption, “Accurate Edit for Clarity: ‘He should live long enough to…be held accountable for his…crimes.’ Actually, I was wishing him the opposite of dead, but apologize if you found the image inappropriate.”
Fox News Digital confirmed that the original image and message were deleted from Bluesky.
The reaction to his original post and subsequent apology highlights the ongoing polarization between Hollywood figures and political supporters.
The controversy arrived shortly after Hamill’s appearance on the “WTF with Marc Maron” podcast, where he expressed strong feelings about Trump’s reelection.
On the program, Hamill said he was “really ashamed” that America had elected Trump twice, calling the second term “on us.”
Hamill noted that he had once considered leaving the United States when Trump was first elected.
He explained that his disappointment grew after the second election because he believed there were more decent and honest Americans.
This was not the first time Hamill had openly criticized Trump.
He has frequently used interviews and social media to express disapproval of the president’s actions.
In past remarks, he described feeling embarrassed by the country’s choice of leadership.
As the backlash over the Bluesky post continued, supporters and critics debated whether Hamill’s apology went far enough.
Some viewed his clarification as sincere, while others accused him of condoning political hostility.
The controversy also reignited conversation about the responsibilities of public figures when discussing or portraying political leaders online.
With emotions still raw following the assassination attempt, many argued that Hamill’s image struck a particularly sensitive chord.
While the actor attempted to redirect attention to accountability rather than harm, the incident demonstrated how quickly digital posts can spark outrage and official responses from the highest levels of government.