Top 5 Climate Attacks On Trump
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From outright saying he wants to be a “dictator” on “day one” to waging an all-out war on clean energy and rolling back environmental protections for big polluters, here are five of the former president’s worst hits from his long (and terrible) record on climate.
1. Trump Wants To Be A “Dictator” On “Day One” To Drill On Public Lands
Trump said he wanted to be a “dictator” on “day one” so that he can eliminate environmental protections and expand oil drilling, including in our nation’s treasured public lands and coastal areas. As president, Trump gave a $25 billion handout to the oil and gas industry, and opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, and has plans to do it again.
2. Trump Waged A War On Clean Energy And Jobs
The clean energy plan has created more than 334,000 jobs and spurred hundreds of billions of dollars in private sector investments. If Trump wins, he will end investments in clean energy, which would threaten thousands of jobs and hurt local communities across the country. Trump actually said that wind turbines cause cancer, kill “all the birds” and drive the whales “a little batty.” Beyond the ridiculous, Trump’s policies amount to a war on clean energy. While Trump was in office he imposed tariffs on solar and slow-walked the leasing and planning processes for renewable energy projects. His actions cost Americans 1.1. million clean energy jobs. Trump has pledged to end offshore wind on day one with an executive order. He threatens 40 clean energy projects on federal land, and his Project 2025 plans could cost 1.7 million jobs.
3. Trump’s History Of Blocking Protections And Allowing Corporate Pollution
Trump has, by far, the worst environmental record of any president in U.S. history. The Trump administration weakened or wiped out 125 environmental protections, including protections to stop polluters from releasing toxic chemicals into the air we breathe and water we drink. As president, Trump blocked water safety rules and allowed corporate polluters to pump chemicals linked to cancer, health risks for children, and brain damage into our water. Trump repealed the Clean Power Plan to allow coal power plants to continue polluting our air. If fully implemented, the Clean Power Plan would have reduced power sector carbon pollution and prevented 4,500 premature deaths per year, resulting in over $50 billion in health savings annually in 2030. If he’s elected again Trump has pledged to terminate the new clean power plant standards which were projected to save 1,200 premature deaths in 2035. Trump rolled back clean cars standards after a lobbying campaign by Big Oil, and repealed common-sense rules to protect air and water from dangerous toxic pollution from fracking.
4. Extreme Weather Threatens Our Health And Our Economy – And Trump’s Climate Denial And Regulatory Rollbacks Will Make It Worse
Extreme weather is becoming more frequent and dangerous, costing taxpayers billions each year, threatening farms and our food supply, and increasing healthcare costs. Despite clear evidence that climate change is real and happening right now, Trump’s denial and air pollution protection rollbacks threatened our entire economy – and he will do it again. One of Trump’s first actions as president was to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, despite experts concluding that the U.S.’s participation would save over half a trillion dollars annually and the agreement would create 24 million clean energy jobs globally by 2030. Now, Trump says he would withdraw the U.S. from the landmark climate pact once again.
5. Trump Bailed Out Fossil Fuel CEOs, And He’s Now Seeking $1 Billion From The Industry While Promising Them $110 Billion In Tax Breaks And Less Regulations
Trump’s tax breaks gave Big Oil a $25 billion handout. After the law passed, Chevron paid zero in federal income taxes, even as the company paid its CEO $33 million and laid off thousands of workers. Now, they are raking in record profits while excessively charging Americans at the pump. Trump asked for $1 billion from Big Oil to support his campaign and promised them $110 billion in tax breaks and to cut environmental protections they oppose.