Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – U.S. Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC), a declared candidate for South Carolina governor, announced her support for measures to remove fluoride from public water supplies and ban what she termed "chemtrails." The statement was made on August 7, 2025, during a town hall event in Myrtle Beach, where Mace also sought an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
During the event, Mace stated, > "I would support any action to remove fluoride from our water and also ban chemtrails." Her remarks, made largely unprompted, align with certain viewpoints that challenge established public health practices and scientific understanding. She also claimed that other states, including Tennessee and Florida, had already banned "chemtrails," suggesting South Carolina should follow suit.
Community water fluoridation has been widely adopted as a public health initiative for decades, with leading health organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA) endorsing its safety and effectiveness in preventing tooth decay. Scientific consensus supports that optimal levels of fluoride in water significantly reduce dental caries across all age groups. While some debates persist regarding potential risks at very high exposure levels, these are distinct from the low levels used in community water fluoridation.
The term "chemtrails" refers to a widely debunked conspiracy theory asserting that aircraft condensation trails, or contrails, are actually chemical or biological agents being sprayed for nefarious purposes. Scientists, including those at NASA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), confirm that these visible streaks are simply contrails, formed when hot, humid jet engine exhaust mixes with cold, high-altitude air, creating ice crystals. There is no scientific evidence to support the existence of a secret large-scale atmospheric spraying program.
While geoengineering, a legitimate field of scientific research exploring large-scale interventions to modify Earth's climate system, does exist, it is distinct from the "chemtrails" conspiracy theory. Geoengineering proposals, such as solar radiation management, are openly discussed and researched, and are not secret operations. Mace's reference to other states banning "chemtrails" may be a conflation with state-level legislative efforts concerning geoengineering or weather modification.
Mace's comments have drawn attention as she launches her gubernatorial campaign, positioning herself within a political landscape that sometimes embraces skepticism towards mainstream scientific consensus. Her stance on these issues marks a clear platform point in her bid for the state's highest office.