In July 2026, social media discussions circulated regarding remarks made by Donald Trump concerning the CHIPS and Science Act. A viral claim suggested that Trump conflated the terms “transistor” and “transgender” while criticizing the legislation.
The CHIPS and Science Act, enacted in 2022, is a bipartisan measure designed to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing. Online, particularly on Facebook and X, a video clip of Trump’s speech was shared widely, fueling speculation. One post accompanying the clip humorously noted that the distinction between transistors and transgender individuals “has been extensively documented.”
In the video, Trump questioned the eligibility requirements for companies seeking funds from the CHIPS Act. He stated, “The standards were so high. If you weren’t transgender, as an example, uh, you didn’t qualify. So, they get the money, they hire, they look all over for transgender people to run the company, large portions. They couldn’t find them.” These comments led to widespread online conjecture that Trump had intended to say “transistor” but mistakenly used “transgender.”
However, an examination of Trump’s statements and the text of the CHIPS Act reveals no evidence of such a verbal mix-up. Instead, it appears Trump reiterated his broader critique of the law by inaccurately asserting that it favored transgender individuals or promoted “woke” policies.
During his speech on July 15, Trump indeed claimed that individuals who are not transgender would be disqualified from receiving subsidies under the CHIPS and Science Act. This assertion is factually incorrect. The law’s purpose is to provide funding to companies engaged in semiconductor manufacturing within the United States and to support microelectronics research through various institutions. It contains no provisions related to transgender people.
Trump’s speech also included criticism of the CHIPS Act, characterizing it as a misuse of taxpayer funds and alleging that companies received substantial financial support without delivering clear outcomes. He further falsely suggested that recipient companies were mandated to hire transgender individuals, and struggled to find suitable candidates, implying they were not involved in chip manufacturing. Trump concluded by asserting that the current administration had weakened the nation and emphasized the need to revive the U.S. manufacturing sector.
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