At least eight US states, including Louisiana, Florida, and Tennessee, are introducing legislation targeting 'chemtrails' or 'geo-engineering,' despite scientific consensus that these vapor trails from aircraft are merely contrails and pose no risk. This legislative trend is seen as a manifestation of anti-government conspiracy theories, fueled by figures like Donald Trump and amplified by social media, drawing parallels to past government actions like Agent Orange.
Eight US states seek to outlaw chemtrails – even though they aren’t real
LouisianaUnited StatesLaw (US)
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️At least eight US states, including Louisiana, Florida, and Tennessee, are introducing legislation targeting 'chemtrails' or 'geo-engineering,' despite scientific consensus that these vapor trails from aircraft are merely contrails and pose no risk. This legislative trend is seen as a manifestation of anti-government conspiracy theories, fueled by figures like Donald Trump and amplified by social media, drawing parallels to past government actions like Agent Orange.
Trending- 1 1960s: Origins of conspiratorial thinking traced to radicals and anti-war satire.
- 2 1962-1983: Project Stormfury conducted experiments to reduce hurricane winds.
- 3 1967: 'Report from Iron Mountain' was published.
- 4 During Korean and Vietnam wars: US military dropped 19m gallons of herbicide, including Agent Orange.
- 5 2016: A study showed 10% of Americans believe the chemtrail idea is 'completely true'.
- 6 Last year (implied 2024): Hurricane Helene devastated parts of western North Carolina, leading to theories of government weather interference.
- 7 August (implied 2024): Robert F Kennedy Jr posted on X about stopping 'this crime'.
- 8 October (implied 2024): Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on X about weather control before Hurricane Milton.
- 9 Late last year (implied 2024): Panic over drones appeared over New Jersey.
- 10 Last week (implied June 2025): Louisiana’s state house of representatives moved against 'chemtrails'.
- 11 Present: At least eight US states have introduced chemtrail-coded legislation.
- Legislation is being introduced in multiple states based on a scientifically debunked conspiracy theory.
- Opponents fear the bills could lead to forced airline re-routing, challenges to airport locations, and legal action against carriers.
- The trend reflects the growing influence of anti-government and conspiracy theories in US legislative chambers.
- Government agencies like the EPA and NOAA are forced to publicly deny undertaking or planning weather modification experiments.
- The cross-fertilization of fringe beliefs via the internet and social media creates a 'wall of crazy' and a siege mentality among believers.
What: At least eight US states are introducing legislation to outlaw 'chemtrails' or 'geo-engineering,' based on a conspiracy theory that aircraft vapor trails are deliberately spraying toxins, despite scientific evidence to the contrary.
When: Last week (Louisiana bill introduction), 2016 (study on belief prevalence), 1962-1983 (Project Stormfury), 1967 ('Report from Iron Mountain' published), August (Robert F Kennedy Jr post), October (Marjorie Taylor Greene post, Hurricane Milton), late last year (New Jersey drone panic).
Where: Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, western North Carolina (Hurricane Helene), New Jersey, US (general), Berkeley (California, for professor).
Why: Political symbolism, anti-government conspiracy theories flourishing under Donald Trump, public suspicion of government due to past actions (e.g., Agent Orange), and the cross-fertilization of fringe beliefs via the internet and social media.
How: State legislatures are introducing bills (e.g., Louisiana's bill ordering the department of environmental quality to record sightings), politicians are spreading theories on social media (X), and authors are tracing the origins of conspiratorial thinking.