Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has launched a blistering attack on Donald Trump, labelling the former president "the biggest con job in American history" during a press conference addressing climate policy.
Climate Confrontation Escalates
The sharp criticism came in response to Trump's recent remarks to the UN general assembly, where he described the climate crisis as "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world". Pelosi accused Trump of "projecting" during Thursday's gathering, convened by Democrats on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
The meeting focused on the United States' official absence from the United Nations Cop30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, where 195 countries are represented. The Trump administration refused to send a US delegation to the annual talks – marking a first in the summit's history – following America's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord on Trump's first day back in office in January.
Solitary Representation and Industry Influence
The sole federal representative to attend the Brazil summit was Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the Rhode Island Democrat and ranking member on the environment and public works committee. Whitehouse spent 60 hours at the climate talks but was denied an official US badge by the administration, forcing him to attend as part of a climate research nonprofit's delegation.
"Trump does not represent the United States … on matters related to climate," Whitehouse stated at the Washington DC press conference. "He represents the fossil fuel industry, and specifically his big billionaire fossil fuel donors when it comes to climate matters."
The senator emphasised that the problem of fossil fuel industry influence predates Trump, noting: "It's about damn time we told this story truthfully with the villains in it". He highlighted a "long and fraudulent campaign of climate denial" by the industry and its use of "unlimited dark money in politics" since the Citizens United decision.
Public Support for Climate Action
New polling data reveals significant public backing for climate initiatives despite political divisions. 65% of US voters believe the country should undertake ambitious climate action even if other states do not, according to exclusive data from progressive polling nonprofit Data for Progress shared with the Guardian.
The research shows majority support among Democrats (85%) and Independents (63%), while 47% of Republicans also back climate action. Additionally, 55% of voters support a global phaseout of fossil fuels, and 54% believe the US should wind down fossil fuel usage by the century's end.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries also criticised the administration's stance, calling it "shameful that the Trump administration chose not to be involved" at COP30. He warned that this absence essentially cedes global leadership on climate issues to rival China.
Pelosi, who recently announced her retirement at the end of her term, reflected on her first UN climate summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, recalling how delegation leader Al Gore delivered "one of the most spectacular save the planet speeches you ever heard" before being called away by Bill Clinton to discuss the vice-presidency.
The former speaker concluded by highlighting Trump's broader impact, stating he is "the worst president of the United States for America's children" due to his environmental record, dismantling of public education, and refusal to address gun violence.
