Before her death, Jane Goodall shared her true feelings about Donald Trump
The legendary anthropologist Jane Goodall, renowned for her lifelong study of chimpanzees, has passed away at 91. Her institute announced she died of natural causes on October 2, 2025.
Goodall was the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, but she also occasionally applied her knowledge to human behavior. She was particularly outspoken in her assessments of former President Donald Trump.
During his 2016 campaign, Goodall drew a direct comparison. She stated that Trump’s performances reminded her of male chimpanzees and their dominance rituals.
She elaborated that male chimps perform vigorous displays to impress rivals and rise in the hierarchy. This included stamping, dragging branches, and throwing rocks.
Years later, in 2022, she reaffirmed this view. Watching a clip of Trump, she again saw the swaggering behavior chimps use to intimidate rivals and project aggression.
Goodall expressed concern that this behavior had tragic consequences. She believed the divisiveness being created in America could have a damaging ripple effect around the world.
Her unique and critical commentary on the former president sparked significant discussion, blending her scientific expertise with sharp social observation.
