President Donald Trump unveiled the new seal for the U.S. Space Force, and several people quickly took to social media to question if it looks similar to another symbol they have seen before.
“After consultation with our Great Military Leaders, designers, and others, I am pleased to present the new logo for the United States Space Force, the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military!” Trump tweeted on Thursday, along with the new seal.
A Space Force spokesperson said that the Department of the Air Force provided Trump with different options for the seal, and the president was the one who picked the new symbol, as CNN reported.
Check it out below:
After consultation with our Great Military Leaders, designers, and others, I am pleased to present the new logo for the United States Space Force, the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military! pic.twitter.com/TC8pT4yHFT
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020
However, as many pointed out at Twitter, the seal for the new sixth military branch appears to have a resemblance to the logo from “Star Trek.”
“The new [Space Force] logo sure looks familiar…” CBS Denver’s Ben Warwick wrote on Twitter.
“Star Trek” actor George Takei even chimed in, as he tweeted in response to Trump, “Ahem. We are expecting some royalties from this…” He added, “I feel like Melania must have had a hand in copyi–I mean, designing this.”
The new #SpaceForce logo sure looks familiar… pic.twitter.com/ImpGtjo1Aj
— Ben Warwick (@BenCBS4) January 24, 2020
I feel like Melania must have had a hand in copyi–I mean, designing this.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) January 24, 2020
https://twitter.com/eroston/status/1220823443010093056
The Starfleet logo is actually based on the Space Force logo because Starfleet won’t be founded until 2130
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) January 24, 2020
I think Gene Roddenberry would approve of the new U.S. Space Force logo #SpaceForce #StarTrek pic.twitter.com/3Bhxvx4CWl
— Michael Tatar (@MichaelTatarTV) January 24, 2020
Live long and let Paramount’s lawyers prosper #spaceforce https://t.co/pISxK3yDSR
— Mark Critch (@markcritch) January 24, 2020
The U.S. Space Force wrote in a statement after Trump unveiled the new symbol, “The U.S. Space Force seal honors the Department of the Air Force’s proud history and long-standing record of providing the best space capabilities in the world.”
“The delta symbol, the central design element in the seal, was first used as early as 1942 by the U.S. Army Air Forces; and was used in early Air Force space organization emblems dating back to 1961,” the statement continued. “Since then, the delta symbol has been a prominent feature in military space community emblems.”
When the newest military branch revealed the utility uniforms on Jan. 17, it also stirred up reactions, as the uniforms are a camouflage pattern. However, the U.S. Space Force defended the uniforms, writing, “Members will look like their joint counterparts they’ll be working with, on the ground.” They also noted that it would save money by using the same uniforms as the U.S. Army and Air Force.