Examining Trump’s Dismissal of Climate Science in 2015
In November 2015, as his bid for the presidency was still widely considered an improbable long shot, Donald Trump unveiled his book, Crippled America. This eighteenth addition to the Trump literary catalog outlined his diagnosis of the nation’s ailments, primarily attributing them to immigrants, former President Barack Obama, a “often pathetic” media, and “total losers” within Congress.
The book itself served as a characteristic platform for self-promotion, with Trump describing his personal brand as “one of the world’s great icons of quality and excellence.” He penned passages extolling his business acumen: “Donald Trump builds businesses. Donald Trump builds buildings. Donald Trump develops magnificent golf courses. Donald Trump makes investments that create jobs. And Donald Trump creates jobs for legal immigrants and all Americans.”
Climate Claims in “Crippled America”
Amidst a broader critique of societal issues, including perceived lax discipline in schools and concerns about immigration, one particular section stood out for its casual disregard of the escalating climate crisis. Trump’s prose revealed a dismissive stance on established climate science, presenting assertions that diverged sharply from scientific consensus.
He wrote, “If you go back in history, you’ll find that the biggest tornadoes we’ve had in this country took place in the 1890s,” a claim that is factually incorrect. He further added, “And the most hurricanes occurred in the 1860s and 70s,” another statement proven inaccurate by historical data. The then-presidential hopeful concluded his remarks on the subject by stating, “Violent climate ‘changes’ are nothing new. We have even had ice ages.” This assertion also lacks scientific grounding, as no ice age has occurred within the last 160 years.
Trump then explicitly stated his personal belief: “I just don’t happen to believe they are man-made.” Notably, he offered no scientific explanation or supporting evidence for his disagreement with the overwhelming majority of the world’s scientific community, which largely attributes the climate crisis to human activities.
Confrontation at Trump Tower
On the day Crippled America was released, Trump held a press conference at Trump Tower in Manhattan to promote the book. A journalist present at the event directly questioned Trump about his skepticism regarding climate change. After a brief pause, Trump responded abruptly, “OK, what else,” before swiftly turning his attention to another reporter, effectively sidestepping the query.
This interaction underscored a pattern of dismissiveness toward climate science that would become a hallmark of his political rhetoric. His statements in Crippled America and his subsequent evasion of direct questions reflected a consistent position that downplayed the severity and human origins of global climate shifts, setting a distinct tone for his future policy discussions and public statements on environmental issues.
Source: The Guardian
