Mark Hamill on Donald Trump’s cabinet: ‘It’s a who’s-who of really despicable people’

Hamill urges the American public not to give up and be paralysed by fear in the wake of the Republican's victory

Hamill urged the American public not to give up and be paralysed by fear in the wake of Mr Trump’s victory (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Star Wars reared its head in the American presidential campaign on more occasion than one. From the parody of Donald Trump as the evildoer of “Darth Trump” to Mr Trump rebuking Barack Obama for supposedly prioritising watching Star Wars over fighting terrorism, the adventures of a “galaxy far, far away” have found their place in an American presidential campaign plagued with bitterness on planet earth.

Since the President-elect’s shock victory, the sci-fi trilogy has found its way into politics again. The newly appointed Chief White House strategist, Steve Bannon, who is the former Breitbart executive chairman, appeared to compare himself to a Star Wars villain. “Darkness is good. Dick Cheney. Darth Vader. Satan. That’s power,” Bannon told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month.

As such, it seems particularly apt that Mark Hamill, who is known for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy, has now weighed in on Mr Trump’s presidency.

The 64-year-old actor, who is a long-time Democrat, said Mr Trump’s presidency is shaping up to be a “who’s-who of really despicable people” in an interview with The Daily Beast. Hamill said he was in “total denial” about his win.

“I’m glad I have [the show] to take my mind off what’s going on. Because if you look at what’s being assembled for our government it’s like, yikes. It’s a who’s-who of really despicable people.”

Mr Bannon was formerly the executive chairman of Breitbart News and declared the pro-Trump site “the platform for the alt-right”. The alt-right political movement has been accused of racism, anti-Semitism and misogyny and of sharing an ideology with far-right parties such as the French National Front.

Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in 1977 (Rex Features)

Hamill urged the American public not to give up and be paralysed by fear in the wake of Mr Trump’s victory. “It’s tempting to say, ‘Well, I’m moving to Canada, I can’t stand it. But in other ways, it’s a challenge to stay and defend your country and do what you think is right and not retreat and hide under the covers. It’s not gonna be easy, that’s for sure".

He also said that political debates would be rife at Thanksgiving this year given the country is so profoundly politically divided. “Half the people in the country are thrilled and delighted and half the people are disgusted, repulsed, and embarrassed.”