Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, writing on X, proposed a plan to ease gas prices in the U.S., which have risen precipitously as a result of President Trump’s war against Iran. The Georgia Republican wrote: “Instead of fighting over a 21-mile-wide bottleneck forever, we cut a new channel through friendly territory. A dozen thermonuclear detonations and you’ve got a waterway wider than the Panama Canal, deeper than the Suez, and safe from Iranian attacks.”
Instead of fighting over a 21-mile-wide bottleneck forever, we cut a new channel through friendly territory. A dozen thermonuclear detonations and you’ve got a waterway wider than the Panama Canal, deeper than the Suez, and safe from Iranian attacks. https://t.co/Et21kHCiAw
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) March 15, 2026
More than one commenter ridiculed Gingrich for what they assert is his failure to realize that his proposal for a nuclear-excavated canal originates from a satirical article published by Chinatalk. The fiction was presented as a humorous open letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with a disclaimer that its views “do not necessarily represent those of anyone with brain cells.”
Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) responded with a gif of a young man gesturing a “V” peace sign and then fading away like a ghost. Social media influencer Liam Nissan asked Grok to provide an explanation as to “why Project Plowshare never materialized.”
respectfully, I think you should scroll to the bottom sir. pic.twitter.com/T62xjj2yIb
— Steve Hou (@stevehou) March 15, 2026
Grok’s response: “Project Plowshare (1957-1977) tested 27 nuclear detonations for civilian uses like excavation and gas stimulation. It ended without large projects due to radioactive contamination (tritium in water, fallout in debris and products like gas), public/environmental backlash, high costs vs. conventional alternatives, and the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty. Proposals for new canals or harbors (e.g., Alaska’s Project Chariot) were canceled for the same reasons—risks outweighed benefits.”
Note: When not commenting on nuclear solutions for Iran’s manipulation of the Strait of Hormuz, Gingrich is often taking photos of his wife, Callista Gingrich, President Trump’s new U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland. As seen below, Ms. Gingrich gave her husband credit for the photo in which she is driving a car in the European country for the first time.
First time driving in Switzerland on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
Photo credit: @newtgingrich pic.twitter.com/bKiAjaDsEj— Callista Gingrich (@CallyGingrich) March 15, 2026
According to Swissinfo, “gas and diesel prices are rising in Switzerland as of mid-March 2026, driven by global oil market instability linked to Middle East conflict. Fuel prices have increased noticeably since early March, with diesel rising sharply by over 8% to around CHF 1.90/liter and petrol prices also facing upward pressure.”