Camilla Jessen
Before her death, Jane Goodall shared her true feelings about President Trump.
Jane Goodall, who died at 91 after a lifetime of research on chimpanzees, was never afraid to speak her mind.
Years before her passing, she shared blunt observations about Donald Trump.
A Pioneering Voice Silenced
The world is mourning Jane Goodall, the renowned conservationist and primatologist whose work forever changed how we understand chimpanzees.
The Jane Goodall Institute confirmed she died of natural causes on October 2, 2025, while on a speaking tour in California. She was 91.
More Than Chimpanzees
Goodall’s six decades of research revealed chimpanzees using tools, showing emotions, and forming complex social structures.
But she was not only a scientist. She also used her platform to speak about humanity itself, often with frank, memorable comparisons.
Her 2016 Take on Donald Trump
During Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign, Goodall was asked about his political style.
Her response drew headlines worldwide: “In many ways the performances of Donald Trump remind me of male chimpanzees and their dominance rituals.”
Chimpanzee Dominance Rituals Explained
In an interview with The Atlantic, she elaborated:
“In order to impress rivals, males seeking to rise in the dominance hierarchy perform spectacular displays: stamping, slapping the ground, dragging branches, throwing rocks. The more vigorous and imaginative the display, the faster the individual is likely to rise in the hierarchy.”
Trump Hugging the Flag
Goodall’s remarks resurfaced in 2022 when MSNBC host Ari Melber showed her a clip of Trump hugging the American flag and calling himself a “perfect physical specimen.”
Laughing, Goodall replied: “I see the same sort of behaviour as a male chimpanzee will show when he is competing for dominance.”
Swagger, Size, and Intimidation
She explained further:
“They’re upright, they swagger, they project themselves as really more large and aggressive than they may actually be in order to intimidate their rivals.”
Her Concern for America
But her comments weren’t just about Trump’s mannerisms.
Goodall linked them to a broader concern about U.S. politics:
“I see that the divisiveness that’s being created in America is a tragedy — and it is a tragedy that can have a ripple effect around the world.”
This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, which may have used AI in the preparation
