The Bizarre 'Jewish Space Laser' Conspiracy Theory About The 2018 California Wildfires Explained

The 2018 California wildfires were some of the most devastating disasters in the state's history, but one U.S. Congresswoman had her own theory about what caused the fires. Here's how Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene shared a conspiracy theory that the Rothschilds and a supposed giant Jewish space laser were responsible for the fires.

What Is The 'Jewish Space Laser'?

The "Jewish space laser" is a fictional device described by U.S. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene in a 2018 Facebook post. In her post, Greene speculates about how a laser put into orbit by Solaren Corp. and Rothschild Inc. could be responsible for the fires, due to the gas and energy company PG&E supposedly benefiting from the disaster.

Although the post was made in 2018, it was uncovered and widely discussed in January 2021, alongside various other posts by Greene that proved her to be a QAnon conspiracy theorist.

How Did The 'Jewish Space Laser' Become A Meme?

Jokes about "Jewish space lasers" began to spread in early 2021, primarily due to backlash against Greene after she was appointed to an education committee. Various people shared jokes about the absurdity of a "Jewish space laser," offering their own theories about what such a device may look like.

What Are Some Other Memes Made About The 'Jewish Space Laser'

Jokes about the fictional laser often referenced Star Wars and the Star of David, with a popular image edit showing the Star of David superimposed on the Death Star in glowing green.

Other memes showed alien characters from the Rocky Horror Picture Show and a dreidel-themed laser.

For the full history of the Jewish space laser meme, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.