During a White House signing ceremony for quantum technology executive orders on Monday, President Trump interrupted Energy Secretary Chris Wright with a sharp “Nobody cares” as the official attempted to explain the scientific foundations of quantum computing.
Wright was recounting an anecdote about Albert Einstein’s contributions to physics, attempting to tie the physicist’s work to Trump’s uncle, John G. Trump, who was an MIT professor. As Wright struggled with the historical dates—mentioning “120 years ago,” then “141 years ago,” then “121 years ago”—Trump cut him off with the dismissive remark that drew laughter from those present.
The moment occurred during a ceremonial event where Trump signed two executive orders aimed at accelerating U.S. quantum technology development. The orders seek to establish quantum computing systems capable of advancing scientific research and strengthening the nation’s technological competitiveness, according to reporting on the initiative.
Trump later asked one of the quantum experts assembled at the event, “Did you know my uncle,” drawing an awkward “No” in response, according to the AP account of the signing ceremony.
The interruption highlighted the informal, often unpredictable nature of Trump’s public events, where cabinet officials and technical experts may find their prepared remarks cut short or redirected by the president’s interjections.
Sources
- AP News — Video and description of Trump interrupting Chris Wright during the quantum technology signing ceremony on June 23, 2026.
- Yahoo News UK — Coverage of the interruption and the Einstein anecdote during the quantum tech signing.
- Nextgov/FCW — Reporting on the two executive orders Trump signed to accelerate the U.S. quantum ecosystem.
