{"id":2395031,"date":"2025-01-25T05:20:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-25T10:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-zealand-mayor-fact-checks-trumps-claim-that-us-first-split-atom\/"},"modified":"2025-01-25T05:21:23","modified_gmt":"2025-01-25T10:21:23","slug":"new-zealand-mayor-fact-checks-trumps-claim-that-us-first-split-atom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-zealand-mayor-fact-checks-trumps-claim-that-us-first-split-atom\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand mayor fact-checks Trump&#8217;s claim that US first split atom"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnew-zealand-mayor-fact-checks-trumps-claim-that-us-first-split-atom%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2395031&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-continues-nuclear-program-aims-to-enrich-uranium-to-20\/\" title=\"Iran continues nuclear program, aims to enrich uranium to 20%\">recent statement<\/a>, Nelson, New zealand&#8217;s Mayor Nick\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oregon-governor-encourages-people-to-call-police-on-neighbors-violating-covid-orders\/\" title=\"Oregon Governor Encourages People To Call Police On Neighbors Violating COVID Orders\">smith<\/a> addressed President Donald \u2063Trump&#8217;s claim during his inaugural speech that an American \u200dwas responsible for splitting the atom. Trump made\u2063 this assertion while \u2063trying to evoke national pride, highlighting various American accomplishments. however, \u200dSmith\u200d pointed out that the honor actually\u2062 belongs to Sir Ernest Rutherford, a notable New Zealander who achieved this \u2062scientific milestone in \u20621917\u2063 while working in the UK.\u200c Smith emphasized Rutherford&#8217;s contributions and expressed \u200csurprise\u2064 that Trump&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">speech inaccurately attributed<\/a> \u2064the achievement to\u2062 Americans. He also extended an invitation to the future U.S. ambassador to New Zealand to visit the Lord\u2062 Rutherford Memorial to ensure the historical record is accurately reflected.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">New Zealand mayor fact-checks Trump&rsquo;s claim that the US split the atom<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1941492\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Nelson, <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-zealand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">New Zealand<\/a>, Mayor Nick Smith corrected President <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump&rsquo;<\/a>s inaugural speech when it came to who gets credit for splitting the atom.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Trump made a claim Monday that an American split the first atom, which was immediately disputed by New Zealanders. The president was attempting to rally national <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/patriotism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">pride<\/a> in his speech when he mentioned the accomplishment.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Americans pushed thousands of miles through a rugged land of untamed wilderness,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;They crossed deserts, scaled mountains, braved untold dangers, won the Wild West, ended slavery, rescued millions from tyranny, lifted billions from poverty, harnessed electricity, split the atom, launched mankind into the heavens, and put the universe of human knowledge into the palm of the human hand.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was a bit surprised by new President Donald Trump in his inauguration speech about US greatness claiming today Americans &lsquo;split the atom&rsquo; when that honour belongs to Nelson&rsquo;s most famous and favourite son Sir Ernest Rutherford,&rdquo; Smith wrote on Facebook. &ldquo;Rutherford, born in Brightwater, raised in Foxhill and Havelock and educated at Nelson College and Canterbury University went on to split the atom in 1917 at Victoria University in Manchester in the UK.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>    <iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhonnicksmith%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02nTW73jiQ4A9ohhuvTuDRCnsWm7icGAigBiXDZGJVQj3vs523RCZn43ZTUy1EYSJpl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"572\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\"><\/iframe>    <\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to the White House for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Smith said Rutherford first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-gov-hochul-escalates-democrats-extreme-rhetoric-against-republican-voters-ahead-of-election\/\" title=\"New York Gov. Hochul Escalates Democrats&#039; Extreme Rhetoric Against Republican Voters Ahead of Election\">crafted &#038;ldquo<\/a>;a nuclear reaction by bombarding nitrogen nuclei with alpha particles&rdquo; and that he deserved credit. While Trump has not nominated a U.S. ambassador to New Zealand, Smith extended an invitation to the person who will assume the role.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I will be inviting the US Ambassador to NZ (when appointed by the President) to Nelson to visit the Lord Rutherford Memorial in Brightwater so we can keep the historic record on who split the atom first accurate,&rdquo; Smith wrote. <\/p>\n<p>Former Sen. Scott Brown was Trump&rsquo;s last ambassador to New Zealand, and Samoa was lumped into his delegation. Trump has nominated Kimberly Guilfoyle as the ambassador to Greece, former Sen. David Perdue to China, former Gov. Mike Huckabee to Israel, Warren Stephens to the United Kingdom,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Charles Kushner to France.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1941492\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1941492\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New Zealand mayor corrects Trump on atom-splitting claim<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2631,"featured_media":2395032,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ernest-Rutherford.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[13420,4602,42602,49196,3634],"class_list":["post-2395031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-fact-check","tag-mayor","tag-new-zealand","tag-nuclear-history","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ernest-Rutherford.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2631"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2395031"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395031\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2395035,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395031\/revisions\/2395035"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2395032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2395031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2395031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2395031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}