Photo taken at opening of anti-extremism centre draws comparisons to Hydra, the villainous comic book organisation bent on world domination

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A startling photograph of Donald Trump, the Egyptian president and Saudi king placing their hands on a glowing orb at a summit in Riyadh has prompted comparisons between the US president and villains from comic books and film.

Trump vows to meet 'history's great test' by conquering extremism Read more

Trump, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Abdel Fatah al-Sisi were pictured standing with their hands on the miniature globe at the opening event for the new Global Centre for Combating Extremist Ideology on Sunday. The US president is in the Gulf kingdom on his first state tour.

The Cosmic Brain (@samthielman) Look if Trump is going to take down the Illuminati he's obviously going to have to do it from the inside pic.twitter.com/58Rnd2I20P

Kathryn (@the_castle_gate) @sarahjeong another view of orb pic.twitter.com/Rt4tMQIVHA

The complex is billed as Saudi Arabia’s headquarters for countering extremists’ messaging, with more than 200 data analysts working to monitor and analyse their online activity in real time.

Local media reported that the leaders’ placing their hands on the globe “officially activated the centre and launched a splashy welcome video”.

But, in an ironic twist, the image of the inauguration swiftly drew comparisons to Hydra, the villainous organisation bent on world domination of the Marvel universe.

Ben Gross (@bhgross144) "Everyone grab on to the cosmic sphere. It's much better than a cosmic cube...believe me!" (HT @PresVillain) #HailHydra pic.twitter.com/7jKLQIdXRt

jon hendren (@fart) tfw you and your friends unearth an ancient alien hell orb and combine your powers inside it to stop superman >>>>> pic.twitter.com/kzsYEKC4R0

This is not the first time comparisons have been drawn between the Trump administration and Hydra. The Hollywood Reporter reported that, since April, Hail-Hydra.com has inexplicably redirected to the president’s profile page on the White House website.

As #orb trended on Twitter there were various discussions on it being a force for good or evil.

Matt Roller (@rolldiggity) A lot of people say the Orb is evil. Stupid! I will negotiate with the Orb, make it work for us. Good deal for everyone!!! Hail the Orb. pic.twitter.com/vmN12iTulB

NopeSec (@NeuralCulture) One #orb to find them.



One orb to rule them all and in the darkness bind them. pic.twitter.com/tsFYX3pzm1

chrisError (@chrisError) I am gone from Twitter for like a few hours, and now Trump is a holding a Palantír! WHAT ELSE HAVE I MISSED?! IS BANNON A WRAITH NOW?! #ORB pic.twitter.com/uZ4xthYIvm

Allison DeJong shared a selection of cards from the immensely popular trading card game, Magic: The Gathering: the “Chaos orb”, “Mesmeric orb” and “Zuran orb” (“Sacrifice a land: You gain 2 life”).

“There are many kinds of #orb, are we sure we know which one we’re dealing with here,” she tweeted, to the response of “NEERRRRRRRRRD!”

Allison DeJong (@allison_dejong) There are many kinds of #orb, are we sure we know which one we're dealing with here pic.twitter.com/pXB7LyFwQ3

Another Twitter user drew a parallel to a Star Trek episode first broadcast in 1968, in which Captain Kirk’s body is controlled by telepathic aliens stored in metal orbs.

Paul Melancon (@PaulMelancon) I hate to be in the position of defending the man, but, you know, this whole #orb thing could have been much worse... pic.twitter.com/wa7zYnAn1y

Even Breitbart News seemed to convey disbelief at the image, sharing it on Twitter alongside a still of George Lucas’ response to criticism of his Star Wars prequel, The Phantom Menace: “I may have gone too far in a few places.”

Others were more optimistic.

Will T (@historicus91) @cd_hooks it's totally the Orb of Peace from the end of The Phantom Menace pic.twitter.com/KuBEIfKWdY

Even the Church of Satan felt obliged to disassociate itself from the moment:

The Church Of Satan (@ChurchofSatan) For clarification, this is not a Satanic ritual. pic.twitter.com/CccP39fqN4

Saudi Arabia was the first stop on Trump’s first foreign tour as US president, which will take in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Italy and Belgium.



James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) Everyone freaking out, it's a GLOBE

You can see the continents

Just a conclave of powerful men laying hands on a fiery globe

This is normal pic.twitter.com/FEo4auHVfm