Newsom hits Trump over climate executive actions: 'Believe your own damn eyes'

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), a high-profile critic of President Trump, took aim Tuesday at a series of executive orders the president signed after his inauguration that rolled back Biden-era climate initiatives.

The actions, part of a flurry of orders and directives Trump signed within hours of taking office Monday, included beginning the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, a freeze on new offshore wind leasing, and expanding oil and gas drilling the Arctic.

Newsom’s one-sentence statement Tuesday read “If you don’t believe in science, believe your own damn eyes,” followed by images of the wildfires that have ravaged much of southern California this month. Trump has frequently blamed the fires on Newsom’s governance, and multiple Republican lawmakers have suggested the state should not receive federal aid without conditions.

However, one of the overarching causes of the fires has been a series of unusually wet winters in the region, which led to the growth of extra brush that became ideal fuel for fires after a severely hot summer, followed by an inordinately dry rainy season.

Trump has falsely referred to climate change as a “hoax” and while he has used that specific language less in recent years, he vowed on the campaign trail to expand oil and gas drilling as president and curtail moves by the Biden administration to promote renewable energy development.

Despite the Tuesday statement, the California governor also released a more conciliatory statement Monday shortly after Trump’s swearing in, referencing the president’s pending visit in response to the fires.

“I look forward to President Trump’s visit to Los Angeles and his mobilization of the full weight of the federal government to help our fellow Americans recover and rebuild,” Newsom said Monday. “Where our shared principles are aligned, my administration stands ready to work with the Trump-Vance administration to deliver solutions and serve the nearly 40 million Californians we jointly represent.”

Topics

Five takeaways on Trump's executive actions on gender

President Trump signed a sweeping executive order late Monday during his first hours in office recognizing only two sexes and preventing government dollars from being spent on what his ...
The Hill - 5h
Trump begins slew of executive actions on immigration, economy, other programs

President Trump, starting his second term, began a slew of executive actions by rescinding 78 Biden-era executive orders, executive actions, and presidential memoranda.
ABC News - 7h
Trump executive orders and actions: By the numbers

President Trump took office Monday, marking the beginning of a new era in Washington. The changing of the guard was, perhaps, marked most significantly by sweeping new executive actions that will ...
The Hill - 9h
3 of the Most Important Trump Executive Orders on Climate

President Trump’s wave of executive orders yesterday sent an undeniable signal to the world about the United States’ role in fighting climate change.
The New York Times - 11h
Can Trump really end birthright citizenship? The legality of Trump's executive actions

President Trump on Monday issued an order to federal agencies to deny birthright citizenship to children of parents who are unauthorized immigrants or temporary visa holders, seemingly defying the ...
CBS News - 12h
Trump executive actions on border, immigration: What to know

Trump promises to sign executive actions to address immigration and border security. Some will likely spark legal battles.
ABC News - 1d
What to know about Trump's Day 1 executive actions

After hours of pomp-and-circumstance, President Trump is using his executive authority to enact major changes — especially on immigration and energy. Ed O'Keefe is breaking it all down.
CBS News - 1d
Trump to sign flurry of executive actions on Day 1

Donald Trump plans to sign roughly 200 executive actions, memoranda and proclamations upon taking office Monday.
CBS News - 1d
The Memo: Trump set to ‘shock and awe’ with executive actions

President-elect Trump is expected to unleash a blizzard of executive orders as soon as he takes office on Monday, seeking to demonstrate he can deliver on the hopes of supporters who elected him to ...
The Hill - 1d