'Knows nothing about science': Internet mocks Trump as his magnet theory gets community noted on X

MASON CITY, IOWA: In a recent rally on Friday, January 5, former President Donald Trump stirred controversy with eyebrow-raising comments about magnets, leading to a wave of mockery on social media platforms.

Trump, currently vying for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, addressed a packed crowd in Mason City, Iowa, a crucial state in the early stages of the primary season.

Despite facing a myriad of criminal charges and maintaining his innocence, Trump is considered the overwhelming frontrunner in the race, consistently polling at 50 percent support among likely Republican voters.

As the primary season approaches, Trump has focused on Iowa, where he has been making frequent appearances in the lead-up to the state-level race.

Critique of magnetic elevators

During his latest rally, Trump delved into an unexpected topic – magnetic elevators, particularly those used in US aircraft carriers. He criticized the decision to implement electric catapults and magnetic elevators during his tenure in the White House, citing cost overruns and technical issues.

"I could tell you about aircraft carriers, where they use electric catapults. They couldn’t go to the steam, which works better for about 1/100th the price, you know? The electric catapult, you know that story? I could tell you about the elevators on a tremendous carrier, the Gerald Ford, and they decided not to use hydraulic like the John Deere tractor, they decided to use magnets, 'we’re gonna use magnets!' to lift up the elevators with seven planes," Trump remarked.

"We need them fast, these massive elevators. They used magnets, they wanted to try it for the first time. This was a ship that was supposed to cost 2.5 billion, it cost 19 billion and didn’t work, and still doesn’t work right," he said.

Continuing his critique, Trump questioned the use of magnets, stating, "They had a $900 million cost over on these stupid electric catapults that didn’t work. They had almost a billion dollar cost over on the magnetic elevators. Think of it, magnets. Now all I know about magnets is this, give me a glass of water, let me drop it on the magnets, that’s the end of the magnets. Why didn’t they use John Deere? Why didn’t they bring in the John Deere people? Do you like John Deere? I like John Deere."

The audience was left amused and bewildered as Trump continued his magnet-related rant, asking them, "By the way, this is more interesting than listening to teleprompter stuff, right? Don’t you think? Because it’s business, it’s like business." However, a clip of the magnet rant was Community Noted on X (formerly Twitter).

Social media mockery

Critics of Trump on social media pounced at the opportunity to mock the former president.

"Trump knows nothing about science at all. He didn’t know the difference between a virus and bacteria during the covid epidemic. He thinks windmills cause cancer," one posted on X.

"If you dunk Trump in water I'm positive he's still negative," another quipped.

"I heard if you drop water on MAGA's, they melt," someone else joked.

"First it was ingesting disinfectant, now it’s magnets," a comment read.

"It scares me that this guy was anywhere near the nuclear codes, let alone use them," another chimed in.

Despite the ridicule, Trump has yet to clarify whether his comments were meant as a joke. His fixation on the carrier's electromagnetic catapult system and the belief that magnets don't work underwater have been consistent themes in his speeches, the Business Insider reported.

In a July 2021 interview with a Princeton professor, Trump reiterated his skepticism about using magnets in elevators.

"They want to use magnets to lift up the elevators," he said at the time. "I said magnets will not work. Give me a cup of water, throw it on the magnets, you totally short out the system. They said, 'How did you know that?' I said, 'Because I know that.'"

While the idea that magnets don't work underwater is a common myth, Trump's skepticism about the electromagnetic catapults on aircraft carriers seems to have some basis. A 2019 Defense Department oversight report revealed repeated failures in the catapult system, and as of February, the system's issues were reportedly still being addressed, per the Maritime Executive.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.