Trump Claims His Uncle 'Invented Radar': What The Record Shows
Trump’s claim is incorrect, though his uncle was heavily involved in U.S. radar research during World War II.
President Donald Trump recently claimed during a press conference on October 24 that his uncle, Dr. John Trump, had "invented radar". The president made this assertion while discussing the alleged destruction of Iranian military equipment, which he attributed to American forces. Trump even boasted, "They’ve knocked out all of the, actually some of the things my uncle invented, the radar."
He went on to say, "My uncle invented radar can you believe it." Dr. John Trump, the brother of President Trump's father Frederick, was indeed heavily involved in U.S. radar research during World War II. He joined the MIT in 1936 and worked on radar research, later becoming an assistant professor of electrical engineering at the institution.
In 1942, he became the secretary of the US National Defense Research Committee's Microwave Committee, overseeing radar research across the country. Dr. Trump also collaborated with Sir Robert Watson-Watt, widely considered one of the key figures behind the invention of radar. It's important to note, however, that the early development of radar involved multiple contributors, including Heinrich Hertz, who proved the existence of electromagnetic waves in 1889, and Christian Hulsmeyer, who patented a device capable of detecting ships using radio waves in 1904.
Watson-Watt, while widely recognized as a key figure, acknowledged that the invention of radar was a collective effort.
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