Bill Nye the Science Guy is attending President Donald Trump’s 2018 State of the Union address — and many of the science advocate’s fans are none too happy about it.
Nye has been invited as a guest of Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R-Okla., who was nominated by Trump to take over NASA. Although Bridenstine has been a staunch denier of climate change throughout his political career, he reversed course and acknowledged that it has contributed to global warming, although he has stopped short of admitting that it’s the primary cause.
A petition to convince Nye to reverse his decision to attend the State of the Union address is 55 signatures away from its goal of 35,000.
“President Donald Trump is a bigoted climate denier. So is Congressman Jim Bridenstine, R-Okla., Trump’s embattled nominee for NASA Administrator. So why is Bill Nye ‘very pleased’ to be Bridenstine’s guest at Trump’s first State of the Union address?” the petition declared.
It added, “Bill, please be the Science Guy, not the Bigoted Climate Denial Guy.”
Nye made it clear when accepting Bridenstine’s invitation that he did so in order to advance the agenda of the Planetary Society, an NGO founded by popular scientist Carl Sagan that promotes human exploration of space.
“The congressman is the nominee to be the next Administrator of NASA, and as I often say, NASA is the best brand the United States has. At the State of the Union address, I hope to hear the President present plans for an ambitious, science-driven space exploration agenda. Space exploration brings out the best in us. It brings the nation together as we solve problems that have never been solved before and learn more about the cosmos and our place within it,” Nye explained in a statement to Quartz about his willingness to be Bridenstine’s guest.
He also explained his reasoning on Twitter.
Tomorrow night I will attend the State of the Union as a guest of Congressman Jim Bridenstine – nominee for NASA Administrator – who extended me an invitation in my role as CEO of The Planetary Society….
— Bill Nye (@BillNye) January 29, 2018
…The Society is the world’s largest and most influential non-governmental nonpartisan space organization, co-founded by Carl Sagan. While the Congressman and I disagree on a great many issues – we share a deep respect for NASA and its achievements…
— Bill Nye (@BillNye) January 29, 2018
and a strong interest in the future of space exploration. My attendance tomorrow should not be interpreted as an endorsement of this administration, or of Congressman Bridenstine’s nomination, or seen as an acceptance of the recent attacks on science and the scientific community.
— Bill Nye (@BillNye) January 29, 2018
The U.S. Space Program has long been a source of American technical achievement, a symbol of our innovative spirit, and a source of national pride. There are extraordinary opportunities for our country, and for all humanity, in the continued exploration of space.
— Bill Nye (@BillNye) January 29, 2018
Historically, the Space Program has brought Americans together, and during his address, I hope to hear the President’s plans to continue exploring the space frontier.
— Bill Nye (@BillNye) January 29, 2018
