People like to boast about their own achievements, but most generally keep it within believable limits. However, it seems the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director, Michael Kratsios, is more daring than most, judging by his recent claim. During his speech at a retreat in Texas, he spoke at length about American technology. The speech seemed fairly typical at first, but one line quickly stood out: “But we are capable of so much more. Our technologies permit us to manipulate time and space.”
Now that’s certainly a one-of-a-kind statement that leaves people wanting more explanation. Unfortunately, Michael Kratsios didn’t elaborate on the bold claim during his speech in Austin, Texas. Instead, he shifted focus to how technology can help boost productivity in the U.S. He did, however, touch on topics like artificial intelligence and biotechnology later in the speech.
Kratsios’s speech follows the Trump administration’s move to let tech companies dodge the harsh tariffs it had previously imposed. While AI and biotechnology are undoubtedly advanced, we are still far from reaching sci-fi territory like actual time manipulation. One possible interpretation of the “manipulate time and space” comment might be Kratsios’s emphasis on productivity. Maybe if workers move fast enough, it qualifies as bending time. That still does not explain the space part, though.
Although the claim about manipulating time and space wasn’t mentioned again, it didn’t take long for the internet to pick up on the strange and over-the-top remark. Many Reddit users poked fun at Kratsios’s speech in Texas. “It’s called ketamine. If you know, you know,” one user joked.
Others took the opportunity to criticize the Trump administration, with one user remarking, “Well, yeah, you guys are back in 1930s Germany.” Given Trump’s increasingly authoritarian and racially charged actions, many began to view him as a dictator. The rise of Nazi salutes from influential figures, like Elon Musk, only fueled the perception of Trump’s shift towards more authoritarian tactics. This association with fascist symbols has led to growing concerns about the direction of the country under his leadership.
Some users found it absurd hearing the Trump administration talk about advancing technologies. After all, with the constant threat of deportation under ICE, many academics feel increasingly threatened. “Dude, look at all the academics fleeing to other countries. You’re driving away the innovators. Private industry sucks at fundamental science; they’re only good at applied science and engineering. This administration is going to ensure that we lose our leadership in science and technology,” one redditor commented.
