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?
AOC Defends Greta Thunberg After U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin Takes A Swipe At Her
What better way to celebrate the impeachment you're too scared to testify at than by lashing out at a teenage climate activist.
While speaking about Greta Thunberg at the Davos World Economic Forum, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said that "she's in no position to give economic advice until she goes to college and comes out with an economic degree."
He also added this condescending ditty:
"Is she the chief economist? Who is she, I'm confused."
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin takes a swipe at 17-year-old Swedish climate activist @GretaThunberg, says s… https://t.co/Wq07L68ErX— The Associated Press (@The Associated Press) 1579786271.0
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez quickly responded on Twitter, defending the teenage climate change activist.
If you don’t have an economics degree like Greta, they’ll mock you for not having one. If you DO have one, as I do… https://t.co/Cda7uY7Iqh— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1579793318.0
Many other people on Twitter also came to Greta's side.
Steven Mnuchin questioned Greta Thunberg's qualifications compared to his own. Let's take a look at you, Steven.… https://t.co/tiYVSlvqNK— JRehling (@JRehling) 1579793814.0
Dude whose bank foreclosed on a 90-year-old woman's home over 27 cents disrespects a 17-year-old asking world leade… https://t.co/duJzNPmZH3— David Beard (@David Beard) 1579784549.0
Goldman Sachs conman Steven Mnuchin, who bribed Trump to appoint him US Treasury Secretary, whose use of military f… https://t.co/NHfKcwd7ZB— Gary Ray Betz (@Gary Ray Betz) 1579830847.0
Grown men, especially those who run powerful branches of government, shouldn't get their kicks making fun of high schoolers.
Who are you Mnuchin? A Hollywood producer? Stop kicking around Greta. It is a bad look. https://t.co/BGNKRyG6n0— Barbara Malmet (@Barbara Malmet) 1579827833.0
Steven Mnuchin: Greta Thunberg can give economic advice after she goes to college. Also Mnuchin: Spent $2,507.42 P… https://t.co/IoUEVqdYWF— Nick Jack Pappas (@Nick Jack Pappas) 1579791448.0
Secretary Munchkin suggests that Greta Thunberg should study economics. What for? Munchkin studied economics, yet h… https://t.co/kcVgiijalS— Monty Boa (@Monty Boa) 1579777339.0
Mnuchin is hardly a paragon of virtue anyway.
A 17 year old understands that resources are limited and that pollution is real. Any ideological form of economics… https://t.co/zRFLpfuIxg— NewscastNow (@NewscastNow) 1579782497.0
Steven Mnuchin might want to study climate science just a little rather than continue to enable a boss intent on de… https://t.co/eVgbUeA2Jt— Ben Lieberman (@Ben Lieberman) 1579783433.0
Before long, Thunberg herself had responded to the Treasury Secretary's comments, saying:
"It doesn't take a college degree in economics to realise that our remaining 1,5° carbon budget and ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and investments don't add up."
BREAKING: Greta Thunberg just responded to Steven Mnuchin: "it doesn’t take a college degree in economics to realis… https://t.co/AvAb9IHV9g— PoliticsVideoChannel (@PoliticsVideoChannel) 1579805969.0
Thunberg is probably happy to know she has many allies even here in America.
Another pitiful bully. Sorry Greta. Grown men fear you. Sears is suing Steven Mnuchin and other former board member… https://t.co/2D1gnX76lc— Liz Allder (@Liz Allder) 1579783918.0
@nationalpost Steve Mnuchin should find some morals and ethics before presuming to lecture anyone on anything.— Erin En (@Erin En) 1579799741.0
This should go without saying...but bullying young women just trying to make a better world doesn't make you a good person.
You can purchase Greta Thunberg's book No One Is Too Small To Make A Differencehere.