57-year-old Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin recently made headlines when he attacked teenage climate change activist Greta Thurnberg at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Many took notice, including Mnuchin's wife, actress Louise Linton.
When asked about Thurnberg, Mnuchin responded mockingly:
"Is she the chief economist or who is she? I'm confused. After she goes and studies economics in college, she can come back and explain that to us."
Thurnberg responded quickly on Twitter, making it obvious a college degree wasn't needed to see we're headed in the wrong direction.
My gap year ends in August, but it doesn’t take a college degree in economics to realise that our remaining 1,5° ca… https://t.co/OIvIZompij— Greta Thunberg (@Greta Thunberg) 1579790380.0
So either you tell us how to achieve this mitigation or explain to future generations and those already affected by… https://t.co/eF654sWl7g— Greta Thunberg (@Greta Thunberg) 1579790417.0
Graph from @CarbonBrief by @hausfath and @robbie_andrew based on United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) emissions gap report. 3/3— Greta Thunberg (@Greta Thunberg) 1579790523.0
Many expected that to be the end of the drama, but then Louise Linton, Mnuchin's wife, spoke out on Instagram.
She wrote:
"I stand with Greta on this issue. (I don't have a degree in economics either) We have to drastically reduce our use of fossil fuels. Keep up the fight @gretathunberg."
Steve Mnuchin's own wife Louise Linton comes out against him https://t.co/vuGymS9KaY— Palmer Report (@Palmer Report) 1579993737.0
steven mnuchin’s wife, the actress Louise Linton, posted this on Instagram after his comments on Greta Thunberg. https://t.co/1T1a38LzFQ— andrew kaczynski🤔 (@andrew kaczynski🤔) 1579986598.0
Twitter was happily surprised by Linton's post.
🚨Louise Linton comes out against her own husband, Steve Mnuchin, to side with Greta Thunberg🚨 Earlier this week, M… https://t.co/DtYpr1Tf7J— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivia Nuzzi) 1579986787.0
The best part is she tagged both of them!! I love her! Wow https://t.co/noAFBOcEgp— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivia Nuzzi) 1579986846.0
About 30 minutes later, however, the post disappeared.
UPDATE: Louise Linton appears to have already deleted the post. Altogether it was up for about 30 minutes.… https://t.co/4meVQup6bU— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivia Nuzzi) 1579987415.0
louise linton welcome to the resis - oh never mind https://t.co/LqmFdhDf7Z— my pal andy (@my pal andy) 1579989288.0
Of course, who knows what might happen next in such wild political times?
Louise Linton Suddenly polling a strong second in Iowa— Sam Stein (@Sam Stein) 1579990497.0
@Olivianuzzi @maggieNYT Oh yeah, if there's one thing I associate Linton with, it's being a champion in the fight a… https://t.co/c8ezX9Eaet— The Unreal Tonald Drump (@The Unreal Tonald Drump) 1579987972.0
More than a couple people aimed jokes at Linton for her temporary step out of line.
After she posted and then deleted support for Greta Thunberg I am really worried about Steve Mnuchin's wife Louise… https://t.co/WU0guzGhE3— Jeremy Newberger (@Jeremy Newberger) 1580010445.0
Louise Linton entering Resistance HQ before deleting her post saying she sides with Greta Thunberg over her husband… https://t.co/0WYKv0wVsR— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1579988635.0
@DavisOliverR Breaking: Louise Linton stands with Greta Thunberg for over half-hour.— John Hobbs (@John Hobbs) 1579996557.0
Ultimately, it seems Linton's heart is in the right place even if her actions are not.
Mnuchin on Greta Thunberg: “After she goes and studies economics in college, she can come back and explain that to… https://t.co/tcWc09XgkX— Betsy Klein (@Betsy Klein) 1579985640.0
Sorry, Steve, it looks like the ladies are all against you on this one.
Maybe try not to make fun of high schoolers the next time you're on the global stage?