Did Trump wrongly claim US scientists split the atom first?

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Trump Did Not Solely Split the Atom First, New Zealand Mayor Claims

A New Zealand mayor has contested claims made in US President Donald Trump's inauguration speech, asserting that the pioneering work in splitting the atom was led by a New Zealand-born physicist. Mayor Nick Smith of Nelson pointed out that Sir Ernest Rutherford, a native of Nelson, is credited with splitting the nucleus of an atom in 1917.
Rutherford's Pioneering Work in Nuclear Physics

Ernest Rutherford, a physicist born in Nelson, New Zealand, achieved the significant feat of splitting the atom's nucleus in 1917 while conducting experiments at Manchester University in the UK. His groundbreaking work involved being the first to artificially induce a nuclear reaction by bombarding nitrogen nuclei with alpha particles. This accomplishment has led to Rutherford being widely recognised as the "father of nuclear physics."
International Recognition and Legacy

Rutherford's contributions to science were acknowledged globally when he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908 for his earlier research on radioactivity. His legacy in New Zealand remains prominent, with his image still featured on the country's $100 bank note, underscoring his status as one of New Zealand's most celebrated figures.
Mayor's Call for Historical Accuracy

Mayor Nick Smith expressed his surprise at President Trump's inauguration address, where the US president listed the splitting of the atom as a crowning American achievement. Smith stated his intention to invite the incoming US ambassador to visit the Rutherford memorial in Nelson to ensure the historical record accurately reflects Rutherford's pivotal role in this scientific breakthrough.

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Did Trump wrongly claim US scientists split the atom first?

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