During a Tuesday address at the United Nations General Assembly, President Trump launched a blistering attack on climate change, labeling it the “greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.” He asserted that the scientific consensus surrounding global warming was the creation of “stupid people,” and criticized numerous nations, including key allies of the United States, for their adoption of renewable energy sources.
This extraordinary rant overlooked the severe human toll inflicted by intensifying heatwaves, rampant wildfires, and devastating floods—events exacerbated by the relentless burning of fossil fuels. His remarks also starkly contradicted the accelerating global trend towards renewable energy adoption.
Trump strategically targeted two themes: the demonization of immigrants and green energy. He controversially branded them a “double-tailed monster,” claiming, without presenting evidence, that they are “destroying” Europe. Both subjects resonate strongly with his Republican base, but delivering such assertions to a global audience proved particularly noteworthy.
“You need strong borders and traditional energy sources if you’re going to be great again,” he declared. “I worry about Europe, I love the people of Europe. I hate to see it being devastated by energy and immigration.”
The president’s criticisms of clean energy appear to be a deliberate strategy by the White House to undermine the European Union’s legally binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to ignite political opposition to Europe’s advancements in clean energy.
Independent energy analysts consistently report that wind and solar power are among the most economical energy sources worldwide, with global investments in renewables now surpassing those in coal, oil, and gas.
Gina McCarthy, who served as the U.S. climate policy director during the Biden administration, strongly condemned Trump’s comments in a statement. “Trump continues to embarrass the U.S. on the global stage and undermine the interests of Americans at home,” she said. “He’s rejecting our government’s responsibility to protect Americans from the increasingly intense and frequent disasters linked to climate change that unleash havoc on our country.”
Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman, defended the president’s statements. In a written response, she stated, “Whether it’s called global cooling, global warming, or climate change, the radical climate agenda continues to destroy many great countries around the world.”
Early in his presidency, Mr. Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement—a voluntary accord among nearly 200 nations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions—making the U.S. the only country to do so. His administration has also obstructed renewable energy projects, eliminated federal incentives for wind and solar power, and removed critical climate-science data from government websites. Furthermore, it commissioned a report designed to minimize the perceived severity of climate change.
European legislators champion the expansion of clean energy as a vital measure to ensure energy security and reduce reliance on imported oil and gas. Conversely, Mr. Trump has pressured European nations to increase their purchases of U.S. oil and gas. The European Union has, in turn, pledged to buy $250 billion in U.S. energy annually throughout the remainder of the president’s term, in exchange for certain tariff concessions.
The United States currently stands as the world’s leading exporter of natural gas and its largest oil producer, with the Trump administration actively promoting further development. Additionally, Mr. Trump has issued executive orders to boost the burning and mining of coal, recognized as the most environmentally damaging fossil fuel.
An overwhelming scientific consensus confirms that the combustion of coal, oil, and gas has caused the average global temperature to rise by more than 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, intensifying deadly heatwaves, fires, and floods.
Referring to global warming as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated,” he chided world leaders for adhering to international agreements aimed at limiting global temperature rise and transitioning away from fossil fuels. This moment was particularly striking given that the United States has contributed the largest share of global emissions since the Industrial Revolution.
“I’ve been right about everything and I’m telling you that if you don’t get away from the green energy scam, your country is going to fail,” he asserted.
Mr. Trump also criticized environmentalists for allegedly wanting to “kill all the cows,” a claim for which there is no supporting evidence. While cattle do produce methane—a potent greenhouse gas—some environmental advocates merely suggest reducing meat consumption for various environmental reasons.
The president’s speech, which lasted 56 minutes, exceeded the typical 15-minute limit for remarks by world leaders at the General Assembly podium by more than threefold. He extended his criticism to European countries, including Britain—where he had recently received a royal reception—for investing in renewable energy infrastructure.
Germany, he contended, “was being led down a very sick path both on immigration by the way and energy.”
Jennifer Morgan, formerly Germany’s climate change envoy, countered that European nations view clean energy as essential for enhancing their energy security and fostering economic growth. She emphasized that building a robust Europe requires actively addressing climate change to prevent people from being displaced from their homes.
One of Mr. Trump’s extended tangents involved the concept of a “carbon footprint,” which he characterized as “a hoax made up by people with evil intentions.” The notion of a carbon footprint, representing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated by individuals or groups, was actually popularized years ago by oil companies as part of a branding initiative.