Whoopi Goldberg Defends ‘Star Trek’ Against Elon Musk
What To Know
- Elon Musk and Stephen Miller criticized a clip from the new Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series on social media.
- Whoopi Goldberg, a former Star Trek: The Next Generation cast member, defended the franchise.
- Goldberg questioned why critics focus on a TV show instead of more pressing societal issues.
Star Trek is a show known for going boldly where no one has gone before, but for former Next Generation cast member Whoopi Goldberg, fighting against antagonistic critics is right in her comfort zone.
On Sunday, January 11, Elon Musk replied to a post on X (formerly Twitter) that criticized a clip from the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. In the clip, Jem’Hadar crew member Lt. Cmdr. Lura Thok (Gina Yashere) is featured with Captain Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter), along with Lt. Rork (Tricia Black).
Possibly not pleased with the direction of the new series, the user posted: “I don’t know about you guys but if I’m ever forced to watch more than 7 seconds of this new Star Trek I’ll be rooting for whatever species is able to take out the Enterprise the fastest.”
In response, X owner Elon Musk remarked on the trio’s appearance and issued a disparaging comment: “Turns out they banned Ozempic and LASIK in the future lol.”
Turns out they banned Ozempic and LASIK in the future lol https://t.co/5Sjhu3XAy4
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 11, 2026
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller also issued a mocking reply in response to a post from @EndWokeness: “Tragic. But it’s not too late for @paramountplus to save the franchise. Step 1: Reconcile with @WilliamShatner and give him total creative control.”
Tragic. But it’s not too late for @paramountplus to save the franchise. Step 1: Reconcile with @WilliamShatner and give him total creative control. https://t.co/HRMDcYeBnU
— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) January 16, 2026
As a result, Goldberg stepped in to provide a history lesson to the two. Goldberg portrayed the character Guinan on Star Trek: The Next Generation from seasons 2 through 6, and reprised the role in the feature films Star Trek: Generations and Star Trek: Nemesis, as well as in a guest appearance on the series Star Trek: Picard.
“They’re complaining that the show has gone woke,” Goldberg said in the Wednesday, January 21, episode of The View. “If you’ve never been asleep, you can’t be woke.”
“This was a show that was created with the idea that people from other planets would come and we would all find a way to exist together. This was Gene [Roddenberry’s] idea. This is his dream. And when you watch Star Trek, that’s what it shows you,” said Goldberg.
She then added, “Why are you concentrating on a television show when people are being shot and killed? When people are going hungry? When farmers are losing their farms? Kids can’t get meals at school. Why are you paying attention to this?”
Miller and Musk have yet to comment.
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