Most research mathematics is completely useless pure mathematics. There is zero economic value in proving Navier-Stokes, the Riemann hypothesis, Goldbach's conjecture, P≠NP, the Collatz conjecture, the ABC conjecture and so on.

Of course, large parts of science are also economically useless. Like analyzing the storms on Jupiter, or finding out what type of organism the extinct Prototaxites was.

It's done because humans find it intrinsically interesting.

> What a stupid, anti-intellectualism take.

It's the other way round. What he said is true: Most research mathematics is useless. Denying this truth is stupid and anti-intellectual.