William Shatner Mocks Stephen Miller Over ‘Star Trek’ Franchise Comments
William Shatner proved he still possesses his sharp wit this week during a viral social media exchange with high-ranking government official Stephen Miller.
The conversation began when Miller, currently serving as the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, criticized a clip from the newly released series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Miller shared a post from the account End Wokeness, which disparaged the appearance of the show’s cast members.
Miller captioned the post with a dire assessment of the franchise’s current state. “Tragic. But it’s not too late for @paramountplus to save the franchise. Step 1: Reconcile with @WilliamShatner and give him total creative control,” Miller wrote. The original post from End Wokeness highlighted cast members Tricia Black, Gina Yashere, and Holly Hunter, implying their looks were “beyond parody.”
Rather than engaging with the political subtext of Miller’s comment regarding “wokeness,” the 94-year-old actor chose to focus on a specific prop choice. “I am so on the same page with you @StephenM !” Shatner replied on Monday. He jokingly expressed outrage that vision problems hadn’t been solved in the future.
“The fact that they have not cure Hyperopia by the 32rd Century is an abysmal oversight on the writers!” Shatner quipped. He continued the bit by suggesting the production was too cheap to afford multiple pairs of eyewear. “Also @paramountplus needs to up the budget because I’m sure that a well oiled organization like Starfleet in the distant future could afford more than one pair of glasses for at least this hyperopic bridge crew.”
He humorously asked if the crew had to pass the glasses around to fly the ship. “Shame on the line producers! That is what you meant, right‽ I am ready to assume command of the series! Call me!” he concluded. Miller responded by ignoring the sarcasm and reiterating his plea for Paramount to “make amends with Shatner.”
😳 😱
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) January 19, 2026
I am so on the same page with you @StephenM!
The fact that they have not cure Hyperopia by the 32rd Century is an abysmal oversight on the writers!😤
Also @paramountplus needs to up the budget because I’m sure that a well oiled organization like Starfleet in the distant… https://t.co/96MtYUGGWf
The clip in question had previously drawn attention from Elon Musk, who also mocked the cast’s appearance. “Turns out they banned Ozempic and LASIK in the future lol,” Musk posted earlier in the month. Tricia Black, who plays Lt. Rork on the show, responded to the billionaire on Instagram, noting she was “comfortable in my skin” but found it funny that the richest man in the world stole a common joke.
Turns out they banned Ozempic and LASIK in the future lol https://t.co/5Sjhu3XAy4
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 11, 2026
The discourse surrounds a franchise that has been rooted in progressive values since Gene Roddenberry created it in the 1960s. Shatner originated the role of Captain James T. Kirk, a character he played for decades until his on-screen death in 1994’s Star Trek: Generations. While Shatner generally avoids overt political commentary, he has previously pushed back against terms like “cisgender,” calling it a “slur & term of harassment” in 2020.
Despite his advanced age, William Shatner remains incredibly active in the entertainment industry and public eye. He famously became the oldest person to fly to space in 2021 aboard a Blue Origin sub-orbital capsule. He has also continued to host the nonfiction series The UnXplained on the History Channel, exploring mysterious phenomena.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, the show at the center of the controversy, premiered last week on Paramount+. Created by Gaia Violo, the series focuses on a new class of cadets coming of age in one of the galaxy’s most legendary places. The show stars Academy Award winner Holly Hunter as the Chancellor of the academy.
The series is set in the 32nd century, picking up narrative threads established in Star Trek: Discovery. It features Paul Giamatti as the season’s primary antagonist, bringing significant star power to the streaming series. It has already been renewed for a second season despite the polarized online reactions.
Reviews for the new series have been mixed but generally hopeful regarding its potential. Critics have noted it is “admirable in its ambitions but shaky in its execution,” while praising the charm of the ensemble. The show aims to blend the high-stakes sci-fi action of the franchise with a young adult coming-of-age drama.
Tell us if you think Shatner should actually be brought back to run the Star Trek universe in the comments.