During Tuesday’s United Nations General Assembly, President Trump launched into a fiery tirade against climate change. He labeled it ‘the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world’ and dismissed the scientific consensus on global warming as the work of ‘stupid people.’ His address also included sharp criticism of several nations, even close allies, for their embrace of renewable energy sources.
This extraordinary diatribe conspicuously overlooked the immense human suffering caused by escalating heat waves, devastating wildfires, and catastrophic floods—all phenomena exacerbated by the burning of fossil fuels. Furthermore, his stance was starkly out of step with the rapid, global expansion of renewable energy.
The president strategically targeted two themes: demonizing immigrants and disparaging green energy. He controversially branded them a ‘double-tailed monster’ that, he asserted without evidence, was ‘destroying’ Europe. While these topics resonate strongly with his Republican base, delivering such remarks to an international audience was notably audacious.
“To achieve greatness once more, nations require robust borders and reliance on traditional energy sources,” he declared. “I am genuinely concerned about Europe; I have great affection for its people. It pains me to witness it being devastated by both energy policies and immigration.”
These persistent attacks on clean energy seem to be a calculated White House maneuver, aiming to undermine the European Union’s legally binding greenhouse gas reduction targets and ignite political opposition to Europe’s significant progress in renewable energy.
Independent energy analysts consistently report that wind and solar power are often among the most economical energy sources globally. Consequently, worldwide investments in renewable energy now surpass those made in coal, oil, and gas combined.
Gina McCarthy, who previously served as the U.S. climate policy director in the Biden administration, criticized the president, stating, “Trump continues to both embarrass the U.S. on the global stage and actively undermine the interests of Americans at home. He is disavowing our government’s fundamental duty to safeguard its citizens from the increasingly severe and frequent climate-linked disasters that are wreaking havoc across our nation.”
The White House offered no immediate comment when questioned about the president’s controversial remarks.
From his very first day in office, Mr. Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris Agreement—a cooperative pact among nearly 200 nations aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. remains the sole country to have done so. His administration has also consistently hindered renewable energy initiatives, eliminated federal incentives for wind and solar, purged climate-science data from official government websites, and even commissioned reports designed to downplay the severe consequences of climate change.
For European lawmakers, expanding clean energy represents a strategic path to bolster energy security and reduce dependence on imported oil and gas. In stark contrast, Mr. Trump has actively pressured European nations to purchase more U.S. fossil fuels. His administration secured a commitment from the European Union to buy $250 billion worth of U.S. energy annually for the remainder of his term, in exchange for certain tariff concessions.
Currently, the United States stands as the world’s foremost exporter of natural gas and its largest oil producer, a position the Trump administration actively seeks to expand through new development. Furthermore, Mr. Trump has authorized executive orders to boost the burning and mining of coal, widely recognized as the dirtiest fossil fuel.
Overwhelming scientific consensus confirms that the combustion of coal, oil, and gas has already increased the average global temperature by more than 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, intensifying lethal heatwaves, wildfires, and destructive floods.
He reiterated his assertion that global warming is ‘the greatest con job ever perpetrated,’ sternly admonishing world leaders for upholding international agreements designed to curb global temperature rise and transition away from fossil fuels. This moment was particularly striking given that the United States bears responsibility for the largest historical share of global emissions since the Industrial Revolution.
“I’ve been correct on every issue,” he stated, “and I am warning you now: if you do not abandon this green energy scam, your nation will face failure.”
Mr. Trump also attacked environmentalists, alleging they wanted to ‘kill all the cows’—a claim entirely without factual basis. While cattle do produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, some environmental groups advocate for reduced meat consumption, not the eradication of livestock.
The president’s speech extended to a remarkable 56 minutes, significantly exceeding the customary 15-minute time limit for world leaders addressing the General Assembly. During this prolonged address, he singled out European nations, including Britain—where he had just received a royal welcome—for their efforts to expand renewable energy infrastructure.
He specifically claimed that Germany was being steered ‘down a very sick path’ concerning both its immigration policies and its energy strategy.
Jennifer Morgan, who previously served as Germany’s climate change envoy, countered this, explaining that European countries view clean energy as essential for enhancing their energy security and fostering economic growth. She emphasized that building a resilient Europe necessitates addressing climate change to prevent forced displacement due to environmental crises.
Among his more extensive digressions was an attack on the concept of a ‘carbon footprint’—the idea that individual or collective actions contribute differing amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide. He dismissed this notion as ‘a hoax made up by people with evil intentions.’
Ironically, this very term was initially popularized years ago by oil companies themselves, as part of a strategic rebranding campaign.