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Star Wars star Mark Hamill made a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room on Friday, revealing to reporters that he had just been given a tour of the Oval Office by Biden himself.
Hamill, an outspoken liberal on Twitter, praised the president’s record and debuted a potential new Biden nickname.
“Well, you know, I called him Mr. President. He said, “You can call me Joe.” And I said, “Can I call you Joe B.-Wan Kenobi?” the Luke Skywalker actor said: “He liked that,” Hamill added.
While press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre didn’t quite explain why Hamill was in town, Saturday is nationwide Star Wars Day — as the Fourth of May resembles the tagline of the sci-fi film franchise: “May the force be with you.”
Star Wars actor Mark Hamill (left) made a surprise visit to the White House briefing room on Friday with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre
The actor came out wearing a pair of aviators that he said were a gift from President Joe Biden. He took them along to briefly answer questions from the press
Mark Hamill (right) hugged White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre (left) as he left the White House briefing room Friday afternoon
During the briefing, Hamill entered the room with Jean-Pierre and stood behind her wearing sunglasses.
“How many of you have Mark Hamill leading the press conference on your BINGO card,” he asked surprised reporters. “Yeah, me neither,” the actor joked.
“I just met the president and he gave me these aviator glasses,” Hamill continued. “I love the merchandise, I love everything.”
He then explained why he was a continued supporter of the Biden administration.
‘But listen, I just want to say that I was honored to be asked to go to the White House to meet the president, the most legislatively successful president in my lifetime,” the 72-year-old said. “And I don’t need to go through the list: the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the PACT Act, the CHIPS Act. 15 million jobs. It’s okay.’
Hamill said he was also “delighted” to meet many members of the White House staff.
“I’m open to questions, but no Star Wars questions please,” he joked, adding, “I just want to say again how grateful I am and that just shows that one person can be so influential and so positive in the world . our lives,” he said of Biden.
‘And thank you very much again. And Peter Baker, I loved your book,” Hamill said, giving a shout-out to the prominent New York Times reporter.
The actor was asked what he was talking to the president about.
He responded that he expected to be with Biden for just five minutes, but revealed the meeting would last longer.
‘He showed us all his pictures. And you know, it was really great for me because you know, I was invited to the Carter White House. And I came. And then I came to the Obama White House. But I’ve never been invited to the Oval Office…so this one was really extra special,” Hamill said.
Once he left, Jean-Pierre chuckled, “I don’t even know where to go,” as staff could be seen applauding the actor as he walked back to the White House press office.
“They had a meeting about what the president was able to do for the American people. Mark Hamill was in town. They met,” Jean-Pierre said, calling it “important.”
“You all know Mark Hamill,” she continued, noting how he has “invested” in the country.
“And we thought it would be fun for him to come here and brighten up the room on Friday, we also believe you are some Star Wars fans here,” Jean-Pierre said.