California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) criticized President Trump at COP30 on Tuesday for being absent from the UN summit in Belém, Brazil, and called his rejection of climate policy an "abomination."
The big picture: Newsom, who's expected to run for president in 2028, said during a ministerial meeting that he's "very mindful that the Trump administration has abandoned any sense of duty, responsibility or leadership as it relates to the issues that bring us all here together" at COP30.
- Trump has called climate change the "greatest con job ever perpetrated," and Newsom is the most senior U.S. politician at COP30, with the president and other senior administration officials absent from the key climate conference.
What he's saying: Newsom said he's attending the summit because he doesn't want the U.S. "to be a footnote at this conference, and I want you to know that we recognize our responsibility."
- The California Democrat on the sidelines of the summit called Trump "an invasive species" and "a wrecking-ball president," adding: "He's trying to roll back progress of the last century. He's trying to recreate the 19th century. He's doubling down on stupid."
- However, he said "Trump is temporary" but "California's commitment is strong, and we're in this for the long haul."
- Newsom said the Trump administration's move away from climate initiatives meant the U.S. risked losing out to "our biggest competitor," China.
- "This is not about electric power," Newsom said. "This is about economic power. And we in the state of California are not going to cede that race to China."
The other side: "Governor Newscum flew all the way to Brazil to tout the Green New Scam, while Californians are paying some of the highest energy prices in the country. Embarrassing!" said White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers in an emailed statement.
- "It's time for Newscum and other countries to drop the climate facade," Rogers said.
- "President Trump will not allow the best interest of the American people to be jeopardized by the Green Energy Scam," she added.
- "These Green Dreams are killing other countries, but will not kill ours thanks to President Trump's commonsense energy agenda."
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