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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India moving towards becoming global economic powerhouse: Kovind
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Amritsar (PTI): Former president Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said that with digital transformation, economic reforms and a strong focus on the ease of doing business, India is moving towards becoming a global economic powerhouse.
He was speaking after inaugurating the 19th edition of the Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX) in Amritsar.
The former president said that this 19th edition of PITEX is being organised at a time when India is recognised as one of the fastest-growing large economies in the world.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the event organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) the former president, while referring to Punjab, said the state is a living example of courage, sacrifice and enterprise.
"The spiritual light of Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) inspires peace and humanity across the world. The heritage of Punjab is deep and inspiring," Kovind said, according to a statement issued by the PITEX.
The former president congratulated the PHDCCI for hosting the 19th edition of PITEX and suggested that the chamber should expand PITEX outside Punjab.
He proposed that a similar event should also be held in New Delhi.
