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Ivanka Trump Criticized for Saying Her Dad's Admin Is 'Driver for Science' — 'BWAHA' Says Twitter

Ivanka Trump Criticized for Saying Her Dad's Admin Is 'Driver for Science' — 'BWAHA' Says Twitter

A simple retweet on Thursday from Ivanka Trump, the president’s eldest daughter and senior adviser, led to small wave of criticism against her on Twitter as other users were quick to note that an administration labeling itself a “driver for science” has in fact been far from that.

“For the past two years, the Trump Administration has been an active and meaningful driver for science and technology policy in America,” the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) tweeted on Thursday.

Trump shared that with her own followers — and the replies rolled in, as previously spotted by the Huffington Post.

In a characteristically dismissive reply, one user wrote, “BWAHAHAHAHAHA Oh wait, Your serious??”

Another wrote, “The ocean is rising to meet this ridiculous claim.”

Said a third: “Is it April 1 [April Fool’s Day] already?”

Trump’s father, Donald Trump, has repeatedly been dismissive of the role of science in his administration (and the dangers posed by man-made climate change) since becoming president two years ago, according to the New York Times.

Last June, the paper reported, “The lack of traditional scientific advisory leadership in the White House is one example of a significant change in the Trump administration: the marginalization of science in shaping United States policy.”

Both the departments of state and agriculture were without top scientists and other agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, had broken up advisory groups on climate science, according to the Times.

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“I don’t think there’s ever been a time in the post-World War II period where issues as important as nuclear weapons are on the table, and there is no serious scientist there to help the president through the thicket,” Princeton University professor Michael Oppenheimer told the paper. “This reverberates throughout policy.”

(The White House declined to comment at the time.)

In August, the president named Kelvin Droegemeier as his top scientist, filling a vacancy that had been vacant for a historically long time, according to the Times.

Droegemeier was hailed then as “an excellent choice — a highly qualified scientist,” the Times reported.

But, said an adviser on space exploration under President Barack Obama: “The real question is, will he be listened to?”

Last year, in a nearly 1,700-page report, the federal government detailed the likely risks posed by climate change to “many areas of life,” including the most vulnerable groups in society such as low-income and marginalized people. The report did not mince words, saying continuing climate change would affect “human health and safety, quality of life, and the rate of economic growth.”

The president, however, has more often made jokes about global warming, to the dismay of the scientific community.

On Thursday, the White House OSTP released its report “Science & Technology Highlights in the Second Year of the Trump Administration.” Among other achievements the report pointed to work expanding mobile networks such as 5G and advanced manufacturing strategies and “reviving” nuclear energy.

“The Trump Administration is ensuring the future is built in America by American workers for the good of the American people and true to American values,” the report’s introduction reads.

Neither climate change nor global warming were mentioned.