Bill Nye Says His Appearance at Trump’s SOTU Is Not an ‘Endorsement of This Administration’
January 30, 2018The State of the Union guest list was unveiled on Monday and many were surprised to learn that Bill Nye “the Science Guy” would be attending as the guest of a Republican congressman.
Nye, an outspoken critic of climate change deniers and President Trump’s roll back of climate change regulations, will attend as the guest of GOP Rep. Jim Bridenstine of Oklahoma.
Bridenstine himself has a history of denying humans’ role in climate change, but he’s reversed those claims in recent months since he was nominated by Trump to lead NASA.
At his confirmation hearing in November, the congressman acknowledged that “humans are contributing” to climate change.
Some critics still faulted Bridenstine for failing to state that humans are the major cause behind climate change. But apparently the change of heart was good enough for Nye.
“He’s changed his mind, and in science that’s generally a good thing,” Nye told Quartz this week. “I am hopeful that others will see the wisdom in the congressman’s evolving view and follow suit.”
Tomorrow night I will attend the State of the Union as a guest of Congressman Jim Bridenstine – nominee for NASA Administrator – who extended me an invitation in my role as CEO of The Planetary Society….
— Bill Nye (@BillNye) January 29, 2018
…The Society is the world’s largest and most influential non-governmental nonpartisan space organization, co-founded by Carl Sagan. While the Congressman and I disagree on a great many issues – we share a deep respect for NASA and its achievements…
— Bill Nye (@BillNye) January 29, 2018
and a strong interest in the future of space exploration. My attendance tomorrow should not be interpreted as an endorsement of this administration, or of Congressman Bridenstine’s nomination, or seen as an acceptance of the recent attacks on science and the scientific community.
— Bill Nye (@BillNye) January 29, 2018
Historically, the Space Program has brought Americans together, and during his address, I hope to hear the President’s plans to continue exploring the space frontier.
— Bill Nye (@BillNye) January 29, 2018
Nye took to Twitter on Monday to further explain his decision, writing, “While the Congressman and I disagree on a great many issues – we share a deep respect for NASA and its achievements.”
He added that his attendance at the event should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the Trump administration and its attacks on the scientific community.
While some on Twitter praised Nye for “fighting the good fight,” others criticized him for what they nevertheless saw as an “official endorsement of this administration.”
“You’d make more of a statement if you boycotted it,” said one commenter.
Some fans have even started a petition urging Nye to skip the State of the Union.
The former host of Bill Nye the Science Guy told PEOPLE in April that, if given the opportunity to confront Trump, he would tell the president that he was wrong to roll back climate change policies put in place by the Obama administration.
“If the president were listening, I’d tell him ‘you got that wrong,’” Nye said. “You don’t want to roll back those climate policies, for the main reason that climate change really is happening, because of humans, no matter what your colleagues and longtime associates in the fossil fuel industry may insist.”