‘Greatest Con Job’: Trump Rallies Support for Coal, Rejects Climate Change Warnings

Former U.S. President Donald Trump used his UN comeback address on Tuesday to champion fossil fuels, dismiss climate science, and deride renewable energy, just a day before a high-level climate summit convened by Secretary-General António Guterres.

In a nearly hour-long speech, Trump mocked renewables as a “joke,” praised “clean, beautiful coal,” and described climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.” He also lashed out at immigration policies and criticized the UN’s handling of conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

“Climate change — it’s the greatest con job ever, in my opinion,” Trump declared, arguing that the concept of a carbon footprint was a hoax invented with “evil intentions.” The term, widely used today, was popularized in the mid-2000s by an advertising campaign for oil giant BP, which critics say shifted responsibility for emissions from corporations to individuals.

Trump, who received substantial campaign funding from the fossil fuel industry during the 2024 election, vowed to dismantle support for solar and wind projects, boasting that his administration had instead “unleashed” new oil, gas, and coal exploration. He called wind technology “pathetic” and confirmed new measures to block clean energy tax credits while tightening restrictions on wind farm permits.

During his first term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate accord. In his second, his administration has not only abandoned climate action but actively advanced fossil fuel interests — from embedding LNG sales in trade deals to threatening countries that join international carbon-pricing initiatives.

His stance contrasts sharply with China’s approach. Beijing has positioned itself as a global leader in clean technology exports, including solar panels, electric vehicles, and advanced batteries, and is expected to unveil a fresh climate pledge on Wednesday.

Climate advocates condemned Trump’s remarks. “President Trump and his administration continue to spread lies and disinformation about climate science and the overwhelming benefits of clean energy, a grave disservice to the American people,” said Rachel Cleetus of the Union of Concerned Scientists. “Climate change is here, it’s costly, and people need real solutions, not propaganda designed to boost fossil fuel profits.”