The anti-Trump editor of America’s oldest magazine has been forced to quit her job after publishing a series of foul-mouthed attacks on the president-elect.
DailyMail.com can reveal that Laura Helmuth has “left Scientific American behind” after describing Trump fans as fascists, racists and sexists in a wild late-night rant when it became clear he had won the election.
There had been a growing public campaign demanding his dismissal over the inflammatory comments.
A spokesperson for the magazine said Thursday: “Laura Helmuth has decided to step down from her position as editor-in-chief of Scientific American.
‘We wish him the best for the future. As we enter our 180th year, we will search for our next editor-in-chief.”
The announcement comes two days later. Newly discovered posts dating back to February revealed a pattern of vile comments directed at Trump allies, including J. D. Vance and Robert F Kennedy Jr.
Helmuth, as editor of Scientific American, which has been published continuously since 1845, described anti-vaxxers as “damned demons” in February, and days later lamented that he was somehow subscribed to Kennedy Jr.’s mailing list.
“There’s no way I’m barking up the wrong tree,” he wrote.
Laura Helmuth, the editor of America’s oldest magazine, is now facing calls to resign after issuing a humiliating apology for her anti-Trump speech earlier in the week.
Newly discovered social media posts dating back to February 2024 reveal a pattern of nasty comments directed at Trump allies, including vice presidential candidate JD Vance and Robert F Kennedy Jr.
‘All the posts are disgusting and brazen, but today’s is about how the rules for appearing on the ballot in Kansas are haunting him. The subject line is “Damn Kansas.” “This damn guy,” he added. At the time, Kennedy Jr was still running for president.
He then dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump, and Trump later revealed that Kennedy Jr would have a “special role” in his government, focusing on healthcare and women’s health.
In July, Helmuth supported Kamala Harris’ run for the White House after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
Setting his sights on JD Vance after he was announced as Trump’s running mate, he wrote: “As a stepfather, stepson, half-brother, and half-aunt, I cannot WAIT for whoever Kamala Harris’ VP pick is.
‘Kick JD Vance’s bigoted, misogynistic, white supremacist corpse to the fucking moon.’
Helmuth was editor-in-chief of the publication for four years and eight months. Before that, she was health and science editor at the Washington Post.
On Thursday afternoon, she announced her departure on BSky, revealing: ‘I have decided to leave Scientific American after four exciting years as editor-in-chief.
“I’m going to take some time to think about what’s next (and go bird watching).”
She then shared a thread of work she’s particularly proud of during her years at the helm, including stories about climate change, gender-affirming care for transgender children, and gaslighting.
American scientist endorsed Kamala Harris for president in September, asking readers to vote Democratic “to support science, health and the environment.”
The once-prestigious magazine made its first presidential endorsement of Joe Biden in 2020, prompting accusations against Helmuth and his staff that they were pushing a social justice agenda.
On election night, once it became clear that Trump would return to the White House and that there was no path to victory for Harris, Helmuth vented his frustrations online once again.
He then dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump, and Trump later revealed that Kennedy Jr would have a “special role” in his government, focusing on healthcare and women’s health.
On election night, once it became clear that Trump would return to the White House and that there was no path to victory for Harris, Helmuth vented his frustrations online once again.
“I apologize to younger voters because my Generation X is so full of damn fascists,” Helmuth wrote on the social media site Bluesky.
He continued: “Solidarity with all those whose meanest, dumbest, most intolerant high school classmates are celebrating first results because they were screwed to the moon and back.”
Helmuth then attacked his own home state: ‘Every four years I remember why I left Indiana (where I grew up) and I remember why I respect the people who stayed and are trying to make it less racist and sexist.
“The moral arc of the universe is not going to bend.”
The next day, Helmuth suggested that her staff were as distraught as she was, writing: ‘Any advice on what workplaces can do to help people devastated by the election?’ Thank you so much.’
Trump was elected the 47th president on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of felonies and survived two assassination attempts. .
Setting his sights on JD Vance after he was announced as Trump’s running mate, he wrote: “As a stepfather, stepson, half-brother, and half-aunt, I cannot WAIT for whoever Kamala Harris’ VP pick is.
Laura Helmuth, editor-in-chief of Scientific American, lashed out at Trump supporters in now-deleted social media posts, calling them fascists, racists and sexists.
Helmuth humiliatingly apologizes for his ‘offensive and inappropriate posts’
Scientific American endorsed Kamala Harris for president in September and asked readers to vote Democratic “to support science, health and the environment.”
Helmuth’s comments sparked an immediate reaction and she later retracted her statements, stating that she was “shocked and confused” when she made them.
‘I made a series of offensive and inappropriate posts on my personal Bluesky account on election night, and I am sorry. “I respect and value people from across the political spectrum,” Helmuth began.
‘These posts, which I have deleted, do not reflect my beliefs; They were an erroneous expression of shock and confusion over the election results. Of course, these posts do not reflect the position of Scientific American or my colleagues. I am committed to civil communication and editorial objectivity.’
In recent years, loyal readers have complained that the publication has become obsessed with racial and transgender issues.
In May 2023, Scientific American was criticized for publishing an article claiming that arguing that there are only two sexes is “bad science.”
Scientific American also published a recent article accusing Donald Trump of pushing “eugenics.”