Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) asked Jennifer Eberlien, representative of the National Forest System, whether the orbit of the moon or the Earth could be altered in order to fight climate change during a recent House subcommittee hearing.
Gohmert attempted to connect solar flare activity to climate change. Gohmert asked the associate deputy chief if “there [is] anything that the National Forest Service or BLM (Bureau of Land Management) can do to change the course of the moon’s orbit or the Earth’s orbit around the sun?”
The congressman justified his question by claiming a past director of NASA informed him of orbital changes that could be affecting the environment. Gohmert followed his question, “Obviously, that would have profound effects on our climate.”
Uncertain of whether the congressman was asking the question seriously, Eberlien replied, “I would have to follow up with you on that one, Mr. Gohmert.”
Gohmert was slammed immediately on social media for his remarks at the hearing. Even news outlets in Russia mocked the congressman for the gaffe.
