The editor of America’s oldest magazine is now facing calls for her resignation after issuing a groveling apology for her anti-Trump rant earlier in the week.
Laura Helmuth, the editor-in-chief of Scientific American, which has been published continually since 1845, went on the rampage against Trump supporters in posts to social media, describing them as fascists, racists and sexists.
But Helmuth has now walked back her comments claiming she was ‘shocked and confused’ when she made them – likely in a bid to save her job.
‘I made a series of offensive and inappropriate posts on my personal Bluesky account on election night, and I am sorry. I respect and value people across the political spectrum,’ Helmuth began.
Laura Helmuth, the editor of America’s oldest magazine is now facing calls for her resignation after issuing a groveling apology for her anti-Trump rant earlier in the week
Helmuth issues a groveling apology for her ‘offensive and inappropriate posts’
‘These posts, which I have deleted, do not reflect my beliefs; they were a mistaken expression of shock and confusion about the election results. These posts of course do not reflect the position of Scientific American or my colleagues. I am committed to civil communication and editorial objectivity,’ she continued.
Scientific American endorsed Kamala Harris for president in September, asking readers to vote Democrat ‘to support science, health and the environment.’
The once-prestigious magazine made its first ever presidential endorsement for Joe Biden in 2020, with Helmuth and her staff accused of pushing a social justice agenda wherever possible.
But Tuesday night’s comments were particularly vitriolic in their nature despite them being posted on Helmuth’s personal account.
Laura Helmuth, the editor-in-chief of Scientific American, went on a rampage against Trump supporters in now-deleted posts on social media, calling them fascists, racists and sexists
Scientific American endorsed Kamala Harris for president in September, asking readers to vote Democrat ‘to support science, health and the environment’
But Tuesday night’s comments were particularly vitriolic in their nature despite them being posted on Helmuth’s personal account
‘I apologize to younger voters that my Gen X is so full of f*****g fascists,’ Helmuth wrote on the social media site Bluesky.
She went on: ‘Solidarity to everybody whose meanest, dumbest, most bigoted high-school classmates are celebrating early results because f**k them to the moon and back.’
Helmuth then went after her own home state: ‘Every four years I remember why I left Indiana (where I grew up) and remember why I respect the people who stayed and are trying to make it less racist and sexist.
‘The moral arc of the universe isn’t going to bend itself.’
The following day, Helmuth suggested her staff were as distraught as her, writing: ‘Any advice on what workplaces can do to help people who are devastated by the election? Thanks so much.’
Despite her apology they appeared to cut little slack with loyal followers
Trump secured his election victory within the early hours of Wednesday morning
Despite her apology they appeared to cut little slack with loyal followers to the magazine which has featured revolutionary scientists such as Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla among its contributors.
‘Wow you should fire your unhinged editor. She needs a long rest somewhere padded,’ wrote one user.
‘And she needs to lay off the red wine. Her teeth are horribly stained,’ added another.
‘She should be stripped of membership for any science organization she’s a member of. Trust in science is tanking because of these egregious, pathetic, bigoted scientists,’ suggested a third.
‘She shows that science today isn’t objective,’ opined a fourth.
Others, however, saw Helmuth’s point of view and felt empathy for her rantings.
‘A lot of us are embarrassed and angered by our country right now. Peace,’ wrote Gerard Griffin.
‘I liked and remember your posts,’ stated Tom Novak.
‘You said nothing wrong!’ added M. O’Lybdenum.
‘I’m sorry you feel like you have to apologize. I didn’t notice anything that wasn’t very relatable,’ said Oliver Plaschka.
‘This is the ‘obeying in advance’ thing people are talking about, if anyone wants to know what that looks like for the average person. Sorry you had to do that to save your job, hopefully you now know that this is who your bosses are, and will be in the coming years,’ posted a fifth.
Others saw Helmuth’s point of view and felt empathy for her rantings
Helmuth had previously gone viral for her ultra progressive posts, including a long thread where she scolded writers for using health terms such as ‘cancer’ metaphorically.
The editor of America’s oldest magazine is now facing calls for her resignation after issuing a groveling apology for her anti-Trump rant earlier in the week.
She wrote: ‘We are pickled in ableism, and it pervades the English language. Avoid using health terms metaphorically, even if they aren’t used that much in health care anymore. That includes lame, crippled, blind, deaf, feeble, demented, crazy, schizophrenic, etc.
‘Unless you are writing about cancer, do not use the word “cancer.” Or tumor, malignant, or metastasize. Everybody has, has had, or knows someone who has, had, or died of cancer. Find a different metaphor to avoid sending your audience’s minds to an awful place.’
Last month, she claimed ‘Trump’s racist rants are straight-up eugenics.’
Helmuth has previously gone viral for her ultra progressive posts, including a long thread where she scolded writers for using health terms such as ‘cancer’ metaphorically
In recent years, loyal readers have complained that the publication has become obsessed with race and transgender issues.
In May 2023, Scientific American was blasted for publishing a piece which asserted that arguing there are only two sexes is ‘bad science.’
Scientific American also published a recent story accusing Donald Trump of pushing ‘eugenics’ .
Editor-in-chief Helmuth was one of many prominent progressives who issued questionable messages following Trump’s landslide electoral win.
Devastated actress Christina Applegate wrote on X: ‘Why? Give me your reasons why????? My child is sobbing because her rights as a woman may be taken away. Why? And if you disagree, please unfollow me.’
Applegate later apologized for her comments.
Supermodel Cara Delevingne said it was ‘gutting but freeing too’ to see Trump win.
She added: ‘We get to make every day over the next four years hell for fascists, misogynists, bigots and liars. This is not the time to shrink, nor the time to despair.’
Trump was elected the 47th president on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago
Trump was elected the 47th president on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.
While Harris focused much of her initial message around themes of joy, Trump channeled a powerful sense of anger and resentment among voters.
He seized on frustrations over high prices and fears about crime and migrants who illegally entered the country on Biden’s watch.
He also highlighted wars in the Middle East and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to cast Democrats as presiding over – and encouraging – a world in chaos.