Trump on energy-efficient light bulbs: ‘I always look orange’

President Trump knocked light bulb efficiency standards on Thursday during a House Republican retreat, telling attendees that energy-efficient lights make him look “orange.”

In a speech to Republican House members reported by NBC News, the president quipped that light bulbs that the Obama administration “forced” Americans to use were “no good.”

{mosads}”People said, ‘What’s with the light bulb?’ And I said ‘Here’s the story,’ and I looked at it. … The bulb that we’re being forced to use, number one, to me most importantly, the light’s no good. I always look orange,” Trump said, to laughter.

“And so do you, the light is the worst,” Trump added.

His remarks come after the administration finalized the reversal of the Obama administration’s efficiency standards on light bulbs last week and days after he made similar comments at a North Carolina rally.

“I’m not a vain person. … But I look better under an incandescent light than these crazy lights that are beaming down,” he said at a rally in Fayetteville.

The rule from the Trump administration will eliminate the energy efficiency standards for half the bulbs on the market, which critics say will hasten the effects of climate change by increasing U.S. energy usage.

“This rule does not prevent consumers from buying the lamps they desire, including efficient options,” the Department of Energy wrote last week. “The market is successfully transitioning to LEDs regardless of government regulation. Consumers are clearly taking advantage of the energy savings provided by LEDs.”

Rebecca Beitsch contributed reporting. Updated at 4:29 p.m.