Jane Goodall jokes about sending Trump, Musk, Putin, Xi, Netanyahu to space in final interview
London: In one of her final recorded interviews, legendary primatologist Jane Goodall humorously suggested sending several world leaders and billionaires on a one-way trip into space, comparing their aggressive traits to those of alpha male chimpanzees.
The remarks appear in Famous Last Words, a new Netflix documentary released after Goodall’s death last week at the age of 91. Speaking to interviewer Brad Falchuk, Goodall said she would launch Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Benjamin Netanyahu “all on one of Musk’s spaceships” bound for a distant planet.
“There are people I don’t like, and I would like to put them on one of Musk’s spaceships and send them all off to the planet he’s sure he’s going to discover,” Goodall said. Asked if Musk himself would be aboard, she quipped, “Oh, absolutely. He’d be the host.”
Goodall, known for her pioneering research on chimpanzee behavior and lifelong environmental advocacy, drew parallels between aggressive human leaders and alpha chimpanzees. “We get two types of alpha,” she explained. “One rules through aggression and doesn’t last long. The other uses intelligence and alliances — they endure much longer.”
In earlier interviews, Goodall had likened Trump’s behavior to that of dominant chimpanzees, noting their tendency to “swagger” and intimidate rivals.
The documentary also captures her reflections on mob aggression in both humans and chimpanzees. “It’s contagious,” she observed. “When one becomes aggressive, the rest catch that feeling. They’re protecting territory or fighting for dominance.”
Despite her critical tone toward some world figures, Goodall ended the interview with hope. “Even today, when the planet is dark, there still is hope. Don’t lose hope. If you lose hope, you become apathetic,” she urged viewers.
Comparing the current global crises to Britain’s wartime resilience under Winston Churchill, Goodall said, “You have moments of depression, but then you say, ‘I’m not going to let them win.’”
Her final message called for small, collective acts to protect the planet: “If you want to save what is still beautiful in this world, think about the actions you take each day. Multiplied a million times, even small actions will make for great change.”
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Ready to face no-confidence motion, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
Hassan (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that the Congress government led by him was ready to face the no-confidence motion if moved by the opposition during the legislature session from December 8.
With Deputy CM D K Shivakumar by his side, he reiterated that they would both abide by the high command's decision on the leadership issue.
"Let them (opposition) bring in a no-confidence motion or adjournment motion or any other motion. We are ready to face it. Ours is an open book, transparent government. We are ready to face anything," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question.
However, BJP state President B Y Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, clarified that the party, along with the JD(S) has not discussed or decided anything so far regarding moving a no-confidence motion against the government.
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The winter session of the Karnataka legislature will begin in Belagavi, bordering Maharashtra, on December 8 and will go on till 19th of this month.
Not wanting to react to a question on the leadership issue, the CM said the Congress high command is very strong.
"D K Shivakumar and I will be committed to whatever the high command decides," he said.
Earlier in the day in Bengaluru, Shivakumar accompanied AICC Mallikarjun Kharge till airport from Vidhana Soudha, after paying tributes to B R Ambedkar on his 69th death anniversary, which had led to some speculation about possible discussion between the two on the leadership issue.
The power tussle within the ruling party had intensified amid speculation about a change in chief minister in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
However, both the CM and Deputy CM had recently held breakfast meetings at each others residences, on the instructions of the high command, which is seen as a move to pause the leadership tussle between the two and to signal Siddaramaiah's continuation as the CM for the time being, especially ahead of the Belagavi legislature session.
