During a recent address at the United Nations General Assembly, President Trump launched a strong critique against climate change efforts. He labeled global warming a “con job” and dismissed the scientific community’s consensus on the issue as the work of “stupid people.” His remarks also included sharp rebukes of several nations, even close U.S. allies, for their commitment to renewable energy.
This extraordinary speech largely overlooked the growing global suffering from heatwaves, wildfires, and devastating floods—events intensified by fossil fuel combustion. Furthermore, his statements starkly contrasted with the accelerating worldwide adoption of renewable energy technologies.
Trump strategically focused on two main adversaries: immigration and green energy. He controversially described them as a “double-tailed monster” that, he asserted without evidence, was “destroying” Europe. While these topics resonate strongly with his Republican base, delivering such a divisive message on an international stage was particularly notable.
He emphasized the need for “strong borders and traditional energy sources” for nations to “be great again,” expressing concern for Europe, which he felt was “being devastated by energy and immigration.”
These criticisms of clean energy initiatives appear consistent with the White House’s broader strategy to undermine the European Union’s legally binding greenhouse gas reduction targets and foster political opposition to Europe’s progress in sustainable energy.
Contrary to his assertions, wind and solar power are widely recognized by independent energy analysts as some of the most cost-effective energy sources globally. International investments in renewable energy consistently surpass those in traditional fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.
Gina McCarthy, who previously served as the U.S. climate policy director in the Biden administration, commented that Trump’s actions “continue to embarrass the U.S. on the global stage and undermine the interests of Americans at home.” She added that he is “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.”
The White House did not offer an immediate response when asked about the president’s statements.
From the outset of his presidency, Mr. Trump demonstrated his skepticism towards climate action by withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement, a global accord aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. remains the sole nation to have taken this step. His administration has consistently worked to impede renewable energy projects, eliminate federal incentives for wind and solar, and even scrub climate science data from official government sites. Additionally, it commissioned a report that minimized the severity of climate change impacts.
In contrast to Mr. Trump’s stance, European legislators advocate for clean energy expansion as a path to greater energy independence, reducing their reliance on imported oil and gas. However, Mr. Trump has actively encouraged European nations to increase their purchases of U.S. fossil fuels. His administration secured a commitment from the European Union to buy $250 billion in U.S. energy annually for the remainder of his term, in exchange for certain tariff concessions.
The U.S. currently leads globally in natural gas exports and oil production, a position the Trump administration actively supports through new development initiatives. Furthermore, Mr. Trump has issued executive orders promoting increased burning and mining of coal, widely considered the most polluting fossil fuel.
An overwhelming scientific consensus confirms that burning coal, oil, and gas has significantly raised the average global temperature by more than 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. This increase has intensified severe heatwaves, catastrophic fires, and destructive floods worldwide.
Reaffirming his view of global warming as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated,” Trump criticized world leaders for upholding international agreements to curb temperature increases and move away from fossil fuels. This condemnation was particularly striking given the United States’ historical role as the largest contributor to global emissions since the Industrial Revolution.
He declared, “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,” reiterating his strong opposition.
Trump also attacked environmentalists, making an unsubstantiated claim that they advocate for “killing all the cows.” While cattle farming is known for producing methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, and some environmental groups do suggest reducing meat consumption, there is no evidence supporting his specific assertion.
His address significantly overran the allotted 15 minutes for world leaders, extending to 56 minutes. During this time, he specifically targeted European nations, including Britain—where he had recently received a royal welcome—for their efforts in expanding renewable energy infrastructure.
He specifically singled out Germany, alleging it was following a “very sick path” concerning both immigration and energy policies.
Jennifer Morgan, Germany’s climate change envoy, countered this view by emphasizing that European countries pursue clean energy for both economic growth and enhanced energy security. She stressed that addressing climate change is crucial to prevent displacement and build a resilient Europe.
In one of his extended tangents, Mr. Trump dismissed the concept of a “carbon footprint”—the measure of an individual’s or group’s greenhouse gas emissions—as “a hoax made up by people with evil intentions.”
Ironically, the term “carbon footprint” was originally popularized by oil companies as part of a public relations initiative years ago.