President Trump has lashed out at countries pursuing a green agenda during a Cabinet meeting, where he hailed America’s economic record.
Speaking to Secretaries of State, the 47th President of the United States was critical in his assessment of some countries pursuing net zero agendas.
Britain is among them, with efforts being spearheaded by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who is seeking to decarbonise the UK’s electricity system by 2030.
In July 2024, he set out plans to pursue a diverse energy mix, including onshore and offshore wind, solar, nuclear, tidal, hydrogen, and carbon capture technologies.
President Trump said he did not want to mention specific countries, but took aim at Britain anyway
|POOL / PA
President Trump holds a different view, which he reaffirmed during the meeting while criticising green countries like Britain, saying they are “destroying themselves.”
“Coal is back with this country. We call it clean coal. We have coal going up, nuclear going up, it’s safe and inexpensive,” he said.
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“We’re not allowing windmills to go up unless there’s a legal situation where somebody committed to it a long time ago. We don’t want solar panels, which take up thousands of acres of our farmland.
“You see these big, ugly patches of black plastic which come from China. I like solar in some ways, but for firing up your big plants, it doesn’t work. It’s crazy.
President Trump's remarks came during a Cabinet meeting
|GB NEWS
“We’re not heavy into that at all, and windmills are destroying our country.”
Pointing the finger at Britain, he said: “I hate to mention countries, but you look at the UK and what’s happening there. Energy costs are through the roof.
“They want to close up northern parts of the country where there’s oil, a tremendous amount. They closed it up and they’re building windmills all over the place.
“I tell them, they’re going to have a bad awakening soon. The windmills kill the birds and are bad for the environment. I’m trying to teach countries quickly about wind.
Ed Miliband is spearheading Britain's net zero push
| GETTY“I think I’ve done a good job, but not good enough because some countries are still using it, and they’re destroying themselves. Whether we like it or not, fossil fuels is what works.”
Mr Miliband has had to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to transitioning to a green economy on multiple occasions, as other worldwide leaders row back.
He is hopeful Britain can achieve net zero emissions by 2050, with reduced reliance on fossil fuels.
The former Labour leader is demanding that large corporations present detailed plans for aligning with the 1.5°C global warming target, while pledging a £30 billion annual government investment into renewable energy and other green sectors by 2035.
President Trump has a vastly different stance, evidenced by his decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement in January.
Executive Order 14162, titled “Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements,” saw the United States immediately withdraw from a series of international climate commitments.
President Trump has consistently downplayed the urgency of climate change while criticising green policies, instead pushing ahead with the “drill, baby, drill” ethos.