These aren’t the droids you’re looking for: Stormtroopers take over White House at presser

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. [caption id=“attachment_2553906” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest appears in the briefing room with Star Wars Stormtroopers and R2-D2 (L) after Obama finished his end of the year news conference at the White House. Reuters[/caption] 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. [caption id=“attachment_2553908” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  A Star Wars Stormtrooper gives a thumbs up as he leaves the news briefing room at the White House. Reuters[/caption] “Clearly, this is not the most important thing that’s taking place in the White House today,” Obama joked, “There’s a screening of Star Wars for people who lost a family member in the Iraq war.” [caption id=“attachment_2553910” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  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. Reuters[/caption] Journalists even joked about hoe there was now little doubt about whether the White House sides with the Dark Side of the Force. [caption id=“attachment_2553912” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  Journalists surround R2-D2, who was brought into the news briefing room, after Obama finished his end of the year news conference. Reuters[/caption]   With agency inputs