‘Does it ever end?’: Trump says something about 6G that has tech experts cringing, and the tech CEO standing right next to him doesn’t bother to correct him

President Donald Trump confused people today when he said the upcoming 6G cellular network might “give you a little bit deeper view into somebody’s skin” to check for perfection. He made this comment on live television while standing next to Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, who is one of the world’s top experts on wireless technology.

According to The Verge,  Amon did not correct Trump during the conversation. Business leaders often use tech buzzwords like “AI” and “5G” without understanding them, but the president confusing a cellular network with a microscope takes it to another level.

Just to be clear, 6G is simply the next version of wireless internet. It will give people faster and more reliable internet access. It has nothing to do with video quality (like 8K) and definitely nothing to do with looking at skin. Trump appeared surprised that technology keeps advancing.

Trump seems confused about how technology works

“So we’re into 6G now, yeesh,” he said. He then talked about preferring older cameras because new ones show “every little” detail. Similar to customers who refuse to believe dealership evidence, Trump seems unwilling to accept technical reality. He even pointed to someone nearby and said, “See how perfect it is. I liked the cameras of the old days. Sort of just had a nice feature.”

He ended by questioning whether tech progress ever stops. “Does it ever end? And what happens? You’ll be into seven, right? Before six gets old, you’ll be into seven,” he added. It’s worrying that the country’s leader thinks a major infrastructure upgrade is about seeing pores.

Trump also claimed he “was a leader on 5G, getting that done.” His role in 5G development is more complicated than that. His administration approved the controversial T-Mobile and Sprint merger, which reportedly failed to deliver on its promises. He also appointed FCC commissioners who removed consumer protections like net neutrality, letting carriers operate with little oversight.

His administration gave cellular carriers extra spectrum for profit and blocked some Chinese equipment from US 5G networks. Right now, his FCC is working to remove broadband nutrition labels, which help consumers avoid hidden fees and misleading marketing from internet providers. Removing these labels hurts everyday consumers who want honest pricing. Tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg face similar transparency issues when dealing with internal criticism.

This isn’t Trump’s first time being confused about technology. In 2019, he demanded 6G “as soon as possible” to avoid getting “left behind,” though it wasn’t clear if he understood what it actually does. He also once thought Apple could help build out 5G in the US. Trump has made other false claims, like saying other countries pay his tariffs instead of American consumers, and that the Moon is part of Mars. He’s currently selling a “Made in the USA” phone that won’t actually be made in the United States.