By Jenna Sundel

Copyright newsweek

Jane Goodall, the iconic British primatologist and conservationist who died Wednesday at age 91, once compared President Donald Trump’s behavior to that of “a male chimpanzee,” while also expressing deep concern for the “divisiveness” in America.

Goodall, renowned for her chimp field research and environmental advocacy, in 2022 told MSNBC’s Ari Melber that Trump displays “the same sort of behavior as a male chimpanzee will show when he’s competing for dominance with another.”

“They’re upright, they swagger, they project themselves as really more large and aggressive than they may actually be in order to intimidate their rivals,” Goodall said.

Goodall died while on a speaking tour in California, the Jane Goodall Institute announced Wednesday.

Why It Matters

Goodall also spoke about the state of American politics during the MSNBC interview. “I’m not an American and I’m not a politician, but looking at it from outside, I see that the divisiveness that’s being created in your America is a tragedy, and it’s a tragedy that can have a ripple effect around the world,” she said.

Goodall’s comments highlight the escalating concerns about polarization in U.S. politics.

Jane Goodall attends the TIME100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 23, 2019, in New York City. (Photo by: NDZ/STAR MAX/IPx)

What To Know

Goodall made similar comments to The Atlantic shortly before Trump won the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

“In many ways the performances of Donald Trump remind me of male chimpanzees and their dominance rituals,” Goodall said. “In order to impress rivals, males seeking to rise in the dominance hierarchy perform spectacular displays: stamping, slapping the ground, dragging branches, throwing rocks. The more vigorous and imaginative the display, the faster the individual is likely to rise in the hierarchy, and the longer he is likely to maintain that position.”

Goodall’s discoveries over her career “revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world,” her institute posted on Instagram.

The trailblazing anthropologist documented chimpanzees using tools and performing other activities previously believed to be exclusive to humans. She also documented the chimps’ distinct personalities.

Politicians from around the world are paying tribute to Goodall.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “heartbroken” to hear about Goodall’s death.

“She was a pioneer whose research and advocacy reshaped our understanding of the natural world. Her wisdom and compassion will live on in every act of conservation. All of us who were so greatly inspired by her will miss her deeply,” Trudeau wrote on X.

António Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations, said he was “deeply saddened.”

“She is leaving an extraordinary legacy for humanity & our planet. I’m grateful for her lifelong environmental protection efforts & her strong support for the @UN,” Guterres wrote on X.

What People Are Saying

U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, on X: “Thank you Jane Goodall for a lasting legacy of conservation, service to all of us, and for always being brave.”

Colorado Governor Jared Polis, in a statement: “Dr. Goodall’s advocacy has made a difference and inspired countless others to follow in her footsteps. I had the great privilege of visiting with Jane several times including while she was here in Colorado, and my heart goes out to her son and grandchildren, and all the humans and chimpanzees who knew and loved her. Our world has lost a truly great person. Jane will be greatly missed, and her legacy will live on and continue inspiring the next generation.”

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