Donald Trump knows a thing or two about constructing gaudy monuments to the outsize egos of powerful men. So it should be no surprise that he might take exception to Ben Carson’s theory that the Egyptian pharaohs didn’t build the pyramids just to gift themselves with glorious tombs.
Last week, BuzzFeed surfaced a 1998 video in which Dr. Carson argues that, contrary to the opinion of “various scientists,” the pyramids were not tombs built with the help of aliens, but grain silos built with the help of God.
“My own personal theory is that Joseph built the pyramids to store grain,” Carson said. “And various scientists have said, ‘Well, you know there were alien beings that came down and they have special knowledge and that’s how they were’—you know, it doesn’t require an alien being when God is with you.”
Trump first sounded off on the theory last Friday, telling Fox Business, “I think it’s a ridiculous situation. I mean he’s talking about the pyramids were made for grain … and if you look at the pyramids, they’re solid.”
Over the weekend, Trump apparently spent some time turning the theory over in his mind, as he had a more elaborate rebuttal to his rival’s pseudo-archaeological musings on Fox News Monday night.
“The pyramids are solid structures. You can’t put grain in the pyramid because they’re solid structures other than a little thing for the pharaohs at the bottom,” the Republican front-runner told Sean Hannity. “But the pyramids — as an example, they were not built for grain because these are very strong solid structures and they don’t have beams going across connecting and big hollow spaces underneath. They’re solid. So I don’t quite get that one.”
Carson and Trump will have the opportunity to settle this pressing matter before a national television audience Tuesday night, when the GOP holds its fourth presidential debate in Milwaukee.
