Trump raises controversy with unscientific statements about “water and magnets”

US President Donald Trump delivered a speech that sparked a lot of controversy due to its illogical nature, in which he spoke about “the power of water that destroys magnets,” during a lengthy speech he recently delivered to members of the US Navy aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington near the Japanese coast.

During his tour in East Asia, Trump talked about the aircraft carrier, apparently trying to indicate his desire for aircraft carriers to rely on “steam propulsion” and “hydraulic pressure” systems instead of the modern electromagnetic systems used to operate elevators and launch aircraft. Trump claimed that “water disrupts the work of magnets,” which is a scientifically incorrect claim.

The US President was talking about the electromagnetic propulsion mechanism that is used to launch aircraft from the newest American aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, as well as the electromagnetic elevators that are used to transport weapons to the deck of the carrier. These are two systems that aim to speed up the process of preparing aircraft before carrying out their combat missions.

Hydraulic systems

Trump said in his speech: “You know that the new system relies on magnets, instead of hydraulics, which can be damaged by lightning, and this is a good thing, but when you pour a cup of water on a magnet, I do not know what might happen.”

He added: “The elevators in the new aircraft carriers operate with magnets, and I think I will change that.” All tractors and drilling machines operate with hydraulic systems, but someone decided to replace them with magnets.”

This speech came on October 28 in front of a gathering of American sailors at the naval base in the Japanese city of Yokosuka. During his speech, Trump, 79 years old, appeared confused and stuttering, as he failed to complete coherent sentences, before he turned to the soldiers present to ask them about their opinion on preferring “hydraulics” to “magnets.”

Trump then invited one of the generals present to express his opinion, before announcing his intention to issue an executive order requiring a return to the use of hydraulic systems in future aircraft carriers, saying: “I will sign an executive order to build aircraft carriers whose elevators operate with hydraulics, and we will not face any problems.” The general here agrees, and everyone agrees, but the problem is with those people in Washington.”

Misunderstanding

It is noteworthy that, according to media reports, Trump suffered from a scientific misunderstanding that lasted for about 18 months, as he believed that magnets stop working if they come into contact with water. Last August, he claimed that “global dependence on magnets” was a conspiracy orchestrated by China. He said: “China was smart, as it monopolized the production of all magnet devices in the world. “No one needed magnets, but 20 years ago they convinced everyone to use them for everything.”

It is a historical irony that the Chinese themselves were the first to use magnets in a very ancient period dating back to 200 BC, that is, more than 2000 years ago.

A slip of the tongue

In a new slip of the tongue, Trump revealed that he had recently undergone an MRI examination, which the White House tried to hide during his second medical examination earlier this year. This type of medical imaging has been used since the 1970s, and it relies on a huge magnet based on a physical phenomenon discovered by an American scientist who won the Nobel Prize in 1944.

Trump did not explain why he was subjected to the examination, but he used the occasion to reiterate his criticism of the magnets, especially after Tulsi Gabbard was sworn in as Director of National Intelligence. It is believed that his hatred for this technology dates back to 2024, when he said in one of his election speeches in Iowa: “Give me a cup of water, let me pour it on the magnet, and the magnets will disappear.”

Trump returned to talking about the same topic during his visit to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, where he pledged to reinstate steam propulsion systems in new American aircraft carriers, considering that “the old methods are safer and more efficient.” About the Daily Beast

. Trump called for a return to hydraulic systems instead of electromagnetic systems in aircraft carriers.

. In a new slip of the tongue… Trump reveals that he underwent an MRI, which the White House concealed.