William Shatner Jokingly Suggests Donald Trump Name the Tenth Planet in the Solar System
William Shatner, known for his role as Captain Kirk in Star Trek, has sparked some funny reactions with his latest post on social media. The actor humorously suggested that if a new tenth planet is discovered in our solar system, former U.S. President Donald Trump should be the one to name it.
Shatner shared his thoughts on X, referencing a previous debate from 2013 when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) decided against naming Pluto’s moon “Vulcan.” At the time, Shatner had proposed the name as a nod to Star Trek, but the idea was rejected. In his post, he joked that the IAU, which also reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet, seemed like “a bunch of corrupt nerds on a power trip.”
“So there’s a 10th planet that was found in our solar system? 🤔 I think that we need to change the rules on who gets to name it because the ridiculous astronomers union who not only failed to name Pluto’s moon Vulcan … and then demoted Pluto as a planet appears to be just a bunch of corrupt nerds on a power trip. I suggest that we get Trump to name it and while he is at it; restore Pluto as a planet and put an end to the union’s tyranny of the cosmos,” Shatner posted.
The post was met with mixed reactions. Some fans enjoyed the lighthearted humor, while others took issue with the mention of Trump, showing how polarizing political figures can be, even in jokes.
There is no official confirmation of a tenth planet at this time. The last time scientists seriously discussed a possible new planet was back in 2017. Shatner’s post was meant more as a playful jab rather than a serious proposal as you probably figured out.
Shatner, a Canadian, typically avoids political discussions, noting that his opinions don’t carry much weight since he can’t vote in U.S. elections.
While some online commentators expressed frustration, most seemed to understand the spirit of the joke.
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