President Trump told a crowd gathered Tuesday at the Economic Club of New York that he’s “very much into climate” and argued that Democrats’ environmental policies will help him win reelection.
“I’m very much into climate,” he said after an audience member asked about climate change.
“I consider myself in many ways to be an environmentalist,” he said, repeating past claims that during his career as a builder he did “the best environmental impact statements.”
{mosads}He also called environmentalists “loco,” the Spanish word for crazy.
Trump’s comments follow a move just last week to formally exit the Paris Climate Accord, one of the latest developments in an administration that has been focused on rolling back numerous environmental regulations.
Since entering the White House, Trump has rolled back EPA regulations on methane, replaced an Obama-era rule regulating power plants emissions and suggested weakening vehicle fuel standards. He has also eased a major Obama-era rule protecting waterways.
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) pushed back against Trump’s comment, kicking off a tweet with a face palm emoji.
“Costs are rising along w/ temps and seas, and you will make it MORE costly for American families & businesses as you take America backward and walk away from #ClimateAction,” she wrote.
Trump also went after Democrats in his speech, saying Democrats “tried to shut down American energy,” arguing the party’s climate policies would help him win reelection.
“I don’t think they even believe in energy,” he said of Democrats. “So far I haven’t found any form of energy that’s acceptable to them.”
Trump made similar comments about his environmental record just hours after skipping an August Group of Seven summit session focused on climate change.
“I think I know more about the environment than most people,” he said at the summit. “I want clean air. I want clean water. I want a wealthy country. I want a spectacular country with jobs, with pensions, with so many things. And that’s what we’re getting.”
Trump previously touted what he sees as his environmental legacy in a July speech.
“For years politicians told Americans that a strong economy and vibrant energy sector were incompatible with a healthy environment, that one thing doesn’t go with the other,” he said.
“We’re unlocking American energy and the United States is now a net exporter of clean, reliable American gas.”