Fact Check: Did Trump confuse 'transistor' with 'transgender' in speech criticizing CHIPS Act?

WASHINGTON, DC: A viral social media rumor claimed that US President Donald Trump confused the words "transistor" and "transgender" while criticizing the CHIPS and Science Act, a bipartisan 2022 law aimed at boosting semiconductor manufacturing in the United States. The claim spread widely online in July 2026, prompting questions about what Trump actually said during his speech.

Claim: Trump confused the words 'transistor' and 'transgender'

In July 2026, social media users claimed that Donald Trump confused the words "transistor" and "transgender" while criticizing the CHIPS and Science Act, a bipartisan 2022 law aimed at boosting semiconductor production in the United States.

The claim spread across Facebook and X, with multiple posts sharing a video clip of Trump's remarks. One post also joked that "the difference" between transistors and transgender people "has been extensively documented."

In the clip, Trump criticized the eligibility criteria for companies seeking CHIPS Act funding and said, "The standards were so high. If you weren't transgender, as an example, uh, you didn't qualify. So, they get the money, they hire, they look all over for transgender people to run the company, large portions. They couldn't find them."

The remarks prompted widespread speculation online that Trump had intended to say "transistor" instead of "transgender."

Claim: False, Trump made no such remark

A review of Trump's remarks and the text of the CHIPS Act found no evidence that he accidentally confused the words "transistor" and "transgender." Instead, Trump appeared to repeat his broader criticism of the law by falsely claiming it favored transgender people or promoted "woke" policies.

Trump did say during his July 15 speech that people who are not transgender would not qualify for subsidies under the CHIPS and Science Act.

However, that claim is false. The law provides funding to companies that manufacture semiconductors in the United States and supports microelectronics research by universities, nonprofit organizations, and other research institutions. It does not contain any provisions related to transgender people.

During the speech, Trump criticized the CHIPS Act as a waste of taxpayer money and claimed the program gave billions of dollars to companies without clear results.

He went on to falsely assert that companies receiving funding had to hire transgender people and struggled to find them because they "weren't into the chip-making business." He concluded by arguing that the Biden administration had weakened the country and said the US must rebuild its manufacturing sector.