Star Trek’s Robert Picardo Takes Down Starfleet Academy Comment By Elon Musk
Star Trek actor Robert Picardo most certainly set his phaser to burn when he recently took aim at a post that Elon Musk made on X, formerly known as Twitter. Musk has not been a stranger to controversy since he purchased the social media company in 2022, often drawing ire thanks to his inflammatory posts and questionable hot takes. But it’s Musk’s most recent post about turning the Starfleet Academy into a reality that had Picardo itching to take down the billionaire a notch or two.
Robert Picardo Didn’t Pull Any Punches
On August 26, Musk wrote, “Let’s make Starfleet Academy real!” in a post on X. For anyone not well-versed in the Star Trek universe, the Starfleet Academy is responsible for the education and training of anyone serving in the Starfleet, including notable characters James Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard. The post has piled up over 57 million views in just a few days, including one view from Picardo, who has starred as The Doctor in a handful of Star Trek series, including Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Prodigy.
The Doctor Is Not A Fan Of Donald Trump
In an answer to Musk’s call to action in his X post, Picardo offered up a short and sweet reply to the Starfleet Academy suggestion: “First step: Support a leader that embodies Starfleet values like diversity, inclusion and ethical behavior,” Picardo wrote. The response is a direct criticism of Musk’s support for former president Donald Trump, who has often made headlines for his divisive rhetoric, numerous civil lawsuits, and looming criminal court cases.
On August 12, Trump and Musk sat down for a lengthy conversation that was aired on X, in which Musk clarified his support for the former president in the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election in November. The interview was marred by a slew of technical difficulties, which delayed the airing by nearly an hour. Throughout the conversation, the two men spoke about their shared concern with the number of immigrants coming into the United States who commit crimes at a higher rate than natural U.S. citizens, though according to recent studies, that claim has been proven to be untrue.
The Needs Of The Many
As a cornerstone of the Starfleet Academy in the Star Trek universe, recruits are accepted from all backgrounds and home planets. Many of the core values shared by Starfleet members are based on the idea of diplomacy, exploration, and preserving the needs of the many versus the needs of the few. Starfleet’s “Prime Directive,” also known as the Non-Interference Directive, is a command given to all Starfleet ships and its crews that forbid them from interfering from other civilizations and their cultures.
Forever Grateful To Star Trek Fans
As someone who is forever linked to Starfleet, Picardo’s portrayal of The Doctor is something that the long-time actor holds near to his heart. In an interview with the official Star Trek website published in July 2024, Picardo noted the impact that his character had on the show and its fans. “When you join the franchise and they particularly like your character, it’s a nice feeling of being welcomed into something larger than yourself, with a history, obviously, that predates my involvement, but that will go on forever after I’m gone,” he said.
Not The Only Trek Star To Take To Social Media
Picardo’s defense of the Starfleet Academy shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody. His response to Musk’s post on X is just another example of a fellow Star Trek actor defending the values portrayed on the show. In May 2024, actor Jonathan Frakes came to the defense of Star Trek: Discovery star Sonequa Martin-Green, who had faced a wave of racist comments from angry fans over her portrayal of Michael Burnham.
