Trump’s Misinformation About Uncle’s Role in Radar Development

On October 24, President Trump spoke to reporters in Palm Beach, Florida, and claimed that his uncle, Dr. John Trump, had ‘invented radar.’ This statement, made after early voting, quickly drew attention on social media. Journalist Aaron Rupar shared a clip of Trump’s comments on X, leading to a community note clarifying that ‘Donald Trump’s uncle did not invent radar.’

Dr. John Trump was indeed involved in radar research during World War II, but he did not invent the technology. Newsweek reached out to the White House for comments on this matter.

Trump’s Claim

Trump made his claim about radar while discussing the destruction of Iranian equipment by American forces during the Iran conflict, which he initiated in February. He stated, ‘They’ve knocked out all of the, actually some of the things my uncle invented, the radar. My uncle invented radar, can you believe it?’ He further referenced Dr. John Trump’s association with MIT.

Who Invented Radar?

Many individuals contributed to the development of radar. British radio engineer Sir Robert Watson-Watt is often credited as a central figure. In his 1958 memoir ‘Three Steps to Victory,’ Watson-Watt acknowledged the collective contribution, noting, ‘The genealogical tree is cluttered with legitimate grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great grandparents of radar.’

German physicist Heinrich Hertz proved the existence of electromagnetic waves between 1886 and 1889, forming radar’s basis. In 1904, Christian Hulsmeyer, another German physicist, patented a device to detect ships using radio waves, an early radar form. By 1935, Watson-Watt had developed a device to locate aircraft, leading to the Chain Home radar system that defended the UK during the 1940 Battle of Britain.

Dr. John Trump

While Dr. Trump did not invent radar, he was significant in advancing the U.S. radar research program for military use. As an assistant professor of electrical engineering at MIT in 1936, he worked on radar research. He became secretary of the U.S. National Defense Research Committee’s Microwave Committee in 1942, overseeing radar research nationwide. From February 1944, he collaborated with Watson-Watt and other UK scientists as head of the British Branch of MIT’s Radiation Laboratory.

Trump’s Previous Claims

President Trump has made several questionable assertions about his uncle. In Pennsylvania last year, he claimed Dr. Trump taught Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, at MIT, describing Kaczynski as a ‘seriously good’ student. However, MIT stated, ‘we have no enrollment record or information that Ted Kaczynski ever attended MIT.’ Dr. Trump passed away in 1985, well before Kaczynski’s identification and arrest in 1996.

For further details, Newsweek editors Matthew Robinson and Trevor Davies can be contacted.