White House awakens to the force of Star Wars

Dunya News

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which has already set an opening night box office record.

Washington (AFP) - Even the White House is not immune to The Force.

A gaggle of Stormtroopers and the droid R2-D2 were spotted in West Wing Friday, as the seat of US executive power succumbed to intergalactic-sized hype around the new blockbuster Star Wars movie.

Giving an end of year press conference, President Barack Obama revealed he too was swept up by "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which has already set an opening night box office record in the United States and Canada.

"Clearly, this is not the most important thing that s taking place in the White House today," he joked. "There s a screening of  Star Wars, " for people who lost a family member in the Iraq war.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest appeared unannounced at the lectern of the briefing room with the Star Wars characters, including Darth Vader s henchmen.

Journalists joked there was now little doubt about whether the White House sides with the Dark Side of the Force.