Jane Goodall, the legendary anthropologist celebrated for her groundbreaking research with chimpanzees, passed away on October 2 at the age of 91. Her work transformed the world’s understanding of primates and offered profound insights into human behavior.

Beyond her scientific contributions, Goodall was known for her candid observations about society and politics. She occasionally drew attention for her commentary on former President Donald Trump.

In 2016, during Trump’s first presidential campaign, Goodall compared his behavior to that of male chimpanzees she had studied in the wild. She noted that dominant males often put on dramatic displays—stamping, slapping the ground, dragging branches, or hurling rocks—to impress rivals and assert leadership.

Goodall remarked that she saw echoes of these behaviors in Trump’s rallies and performances. The use of spectacle, she explained, was a strategy both chimps and humans employed to project power and authority.

Years later, in a 2022 interview on MSNBC, she revisited the comparison. After being shown footage of Trump hugging the American flag and calling himself a “perfect physical specimen,” Goodall laughed. She said the display reminded her once again of male chimps vying for dominance.

According to Goodall, these exaggerated gestures serve a simple purpose: to appear larger, louder, and more intimidating than reality. For chimpanzees, the tactic can determine who rises to power. For humans, she suggested, it plays a similar role.

Still, Goodall was concerned about the consequences of such behavior on a broader scale. She described the growing divisiveness in the United States as a tragedy with potential ripple effects across the world.

Her legacy, however, reaches far beyond political commentary. Goodall’s life’s work combined rigorous science with a deep commitment to peace, compassion, and understanding—values she believed essential for both chimpanzees and humans alike.