Trump Tapped A Muslim-Hating Masseur With No Relevant Experience To Help With Nuclear Weapons Research

Energy Dept. Parts Ways With President’s Former Campaign Staffer Over Islamophobic Tweets

After serving as a paid campaign operative for Donald Trump in New Hampshire, 60-year-old Sid Bowdidge was named “assistant to the secretary” of the Department of Energy by the White House following the inauguration. 

Bowdidge, a massage therapist by trade with no apparent relevant experience, reportedly was involved in overseeing the department’s Office of Technology Transitions, which handles the commercialization of federal research related to nuclear weapons. 

But on Friday, the Energy Department parted ways with Bowdidge after it was revealed that he posted numerous Islamophobic tweets in late 2015 (above and below), including calling for the U.S. to “exterminate” Muslim “maggots.”  

POLITICO reports that Energy Department officials hadn’t received many details about Bowdidge’s position, responsibilities or experience. But his anti-Muslim tweets caught their attention when they Googled him. 

“Every time there’s a new political that comes in, we’re all, ‘Who is this guy? What’s his background?’” a career Energy Department staffer told POLITICO. “This person’s in charge of, theoretically, overseeing the policy around commercializing billions of dollars of federal research. This guy seems like he’s pretty far out, and we just don’t know. It looks like sort of a ridiculous appointment.”

This week, ProPublica reported that the Trump administration has installed 520 “beachhead” operatives to serve as its “eyes and ears” at federal agencies, including lobbyists, campaign aides and far-right conspiracy theorists. Although he didn’t appear on ProPublica’s list, Bowdidge worked as a ground campaign manager for Trump in New Hampshire, according to BuzzFeed News.  

In an NBC News report from August 2015, Bowdidge identified himself as “massage therapist from Bedford” during a debate watch party at Trump’s New Hampshire campaign office. 

“He’s a guy who gets it done,” Bowdidge said of Trump. “He’s all about getting it done. He’s been successful. This country needs to be run more like a business and he absolutely knows how to run a business.”

In a massage ad on Backpage.com in November 2015, Bowdidge described himself as “SAFE AND SANE.”

“Offering 60, 90 or 120 minute massage at your place or mine,” he wrote in the ad. “Performed at my very clean and neat studio office in my home on a massage table to soothing music.”