6/1/2017 Vice Mail - Statement by President Trump on the Paris Climate Accord

JasonKoebler<jason.koebler@vice.com>

StatementbyPresidentTrumpontheParisClimateAccord
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WhiteHousePressOffice<whitehousenoreply@messages.whitehouse.gov> 1June2017at17:10
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THEWHITEHOUSE

OfficeofthePressSecretary

ForImmediateReleaseJune1,2017

STATEMENTBYPRESIDENTTRUMP

ONTHEPARISCLIMATEACCORD

RoseGarden

3:32P.M.EDT

THEPRESIDENT:Thankyouverymuch.(Applause.)Thankyou.Iwouldliketobeginbyaddressingthe
terroristattackinManila.Werecloselymonitoringthesituation,andIwillcontinuetogiveupdatesifanythinghappens
duringthisperiodoftime.Butitisreallyverysadastowhatsgoingonthroughouttheworldwithterror.Ourthoughts
andourprayersarewithallofthoseaffected.

BeforewediscusstheParisAccord,Idliketobeginwithanupdateonourtremendousabsolutelytremendous
economicprogresssinceElectionDayonNovember8th.Theeconomyisstartingtocomeback,andvery,very
rapidly.Weveadded$3.3trillioninstockmarketvaluetooureconomy,andmorethanamillionprivatesectorjobs.

Ihavejustreturnedfromatripoverseaswhereweconcludednearly$350billionofmilitaryandeconomic
developmentfortheUnitedStates,creatinghundredsofthousandsofjobs.Itwasavery,verysuccessfultrip,believe
me.(Applause.)Thankyou.Thankyou.

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InmymeetingsattheG7,wehavetakenhistoricstepstodemandfairandreciprocaltradethatgivesAmericans
alevelplayingfieldagainstothernations.WerealsoworkingveryhardforpeaceintheMiddleEast,andperhapseven
peacebetweentheIsraelisandthePalestinians.Ourattacksonterrorismaregreatlysteppedupandyouseethat,you
seeitalloverfromthepreviousadministration,includinggettingmanyothercountriestomakemajorcontributionsto
thefightagainstterror.Big,bigcontributionsarebeingmadebycountriesthatwerentdoingsomuchintheformof
contribution.

Onebyone,wearekeepingthepromisesImadetotheAmericanpeopleduringmycampaignforPresident
whetheritscuttingjobkillingregulationsappointingandconfirmingatremendousSupremeCourtjusticeputtinginplace
toughnewethicsrulesachievingarecordreductioninillegalimmigrationonoursouthernborderorbringingjobs,plants,
andfactoriesbackintotheUnitedStatesatnumberswhichnooneuntilthispointthoughtevenpossible.Andbelieveme,
wevejustbegun.Thefruitsofourlaborwillbeseenveryshortlyevenmoreso.

Ontheseissuesandsomanymore,werefollowingthroughonourcommitments.AndIdontwantanythingto
getinourway.Iamfightingeverydayforthegreatpeopleofthiscountry.Therefore,inordertofulfillmysolemndutyto
protectAmericaanditscitizens,theUnitedStateswillwithdrawfromtheParisClimateAccord(applause)thankyou,
thankyoubutbeginnegotiationstoreentereithertheParisAccordorareallyentirelynewtransactionontermsthatare
fairtotheUnitedStates,itsbusinesses,itsworkers,itspeople,itstaxpayers.Soweregettingout.Butwewillstartto
negotiate,andwewillseeifwecanmakeadealthatsfair.Andifwecan,thatsgreat.Andifwecant,thatsfine.
(Applause.)

AsPresident,IcanputnootherconsiderationbeforethewellbeingofAmericancitizens.TheParisClimate
AccordissimplythelatestexampleofWashingtonenteringintoanagreementthatdisadvantagestheUnitedStatesto
theexclusivebenefitofothercountries,leavingAmericanworkerswhoIloveandtaxpayerstoabsorbthecostin
termsoflostjobs,lowerwages,shutteredfactories,andvastlydiminishedeconomicproduction.

Thus,asoftoday,theUnitedStateswillceaseallimplementationofthenonbindingParisAccordandthe
draconianfinancialandeconomicburdenstheagreementimposesonourcountry.Thisincludesendingthe
implementationofthenationallydeterminedcontributionand,veryimportantly,theGreenClimateFundwhichiscosting
theUnitedStatesavastfortune.

CompliancewiththetermsoftheParisAccordandtheonerousenergyrestrictionsithasplacedontheUnited
StatescouldcostAmericaasmuchas2.7millionlostjobsby2025accordingtotheNationalEconomicResearch
Associates.Thisincludes440,000fewermanufacturingjobsnotwhatweneedbelieveme,thisisnotwhatweneed
includingautomobilejobs,andthefurtherdecimationofvitalAmericanindustriesonwhichcountlesscommunitiesrely.
Theyrelyforsomuch,andwewouldbegivingthemsolittle.

Accordingtothissamestudy,by2040,compliancewiththecommitmentsputintoplacebytheprevious
administrationwouldcutproductionforthefollowingsectors:paperdown12percentcementdown23percentironand
steeldown38percentcoalandIhappentolovethecoalminersdown86percentnaturalgasdown31percent.
Thecosttotheeconomyatthistimewouldbecloseto$3trillioninlostGDPand6.5millionindustrialjobs,while
householdswouldhave$7,000lessincomeand,inmanycases,muchworsethanthat.

Notonlydoesthisdealsubjectourcitizenstoharsheconomicrestrictions,itfailstoliveuptoourenvironmental
ideals.Assomeonewhocaresdeeplyabouttheenvironment,whichIdo,Icannotingoodconsciencesupportadeal
thatpunishestheUnitedStateswhichiswhatitdoestheworldsleaderinenvironmentalprotection,whileimposing
nomeaningfulobligationsontheworldsleadingpolluters.

Forexample,undertheagreement,Chinawillbeabletoincreasetheseemissionsbyastaggeringnumberof
years13.Theycandowhatevertheywantfor13years.Notus.Indiamakesitsparticipationcontingentonreceiving

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billionsandbillionsandbillionsofdollarsinforeignaidfromdevelopedcountries.Therearemanyotherexamples.But
thebottomlineisthattheParisAccordisveryunfair,atthehighestlevel,totheUnitedStates.

Further,whilethecurrentagreementeffectivelyblocksthedevelopmentofcleancoalinAmericawhichitdoes,
andtheminesarestartingtoopenup.Werehavingabigopeningintwoweeks.Pennsylvania,Ohio,WestVirginia,so
manyplaces.Abigopeningofabrandnewmine.Itsunheardof.Formany,manyyears,thathasnthappened.They
askedmeifIdgo.Imgoingtotry.

Chinawillbeallowedtobuildhundredsofadditionalcoalplants.Sowecantbuildtheplants,buttheycan,
accordingtothisagreement.Indiawillbeallowedtodoubleitscoalproductionby2020.Thinkofit:Indiacandouble
theircoalproduction.Weresupposedtogetridofours.EvenEuropeisallowedtocontinueconstructionofcoalplants.

Inshort,theagreementdoesnteliminatecoaljobs,itjusttransfersthosejobsoutofAmericaandtheUnited
States,andshipsthemtoforeigncountries.

Thisagreementislessabouttheclimateandmoreaboutothercountriesgainingafinancialadvantageoverthe
UnitedStates.TherestoftheworldapplaudedwhenwesignedtheParisAgreementtheywentwildtheywereso
happyforthesimplereasonthatitputourcountry,theUnitedStatesofAmerica,whichwealllove,atavery,verybig
economicdisadvantage.Acynicwouldsaytheobviousreasonforeconomiccompetitorsandtheirwishtoseeusremain
intheagreementissothatwecontinuetosufferthisselfinflictedmajoreconomicwound.Wewouldfinditveryhardto
competewithothercountriesfromotherpartsoftheworld.

Wehaveamongthemostabundantenergyreservesontheplanet,sufficienttoliftmillionsofAmericaspoorest
workersoutofpoverty.Yet,underthisagreement,weareeffectivelyputtingthesereservesunderlockandkey,taking
awaythegreatwealthofournationit'sgreatwealth,it'sphenomenalwealthnotsolongago,wehadnoideawehad
suchwealthandleavingmillionsandmillionsoffamiliestrappedinpovertyandjoblessness.

TheagreementisamassiveredistributionofUnitedStateswealthtoothercountries.At1percentgrowth,
renewablesourcesofenergycanmeetsomeofourdomesticdemand,butat3or4percentgrowth,whichIexpect,we
needallformsofavailableAmericanenergy,orourcountry(applause)willbeatgraveriskofbrownoutsand
blackouts,ourbusinesseswillcometoahaltinmanycases,andtheAmericanfamilywillsuffertheconsequencesinthe
formoflostjobsandaverydiminishedqualityoflife.

EveniftheParisAgreementwereimplementedinfull,withtotalcompliancefromallnations,itisestimatedit
wouldonlyproduceatwotenthsofonedegreethinkofthatthismuchCelsiusreductioninglobaltemperaturebythe
year2100.Tiny,tinyamount.Infact,14daysofcarbonemissionsfromChinaalonewouldwipeoutthegainsfrom
AmericaandthisisanincrediblestatisticwouldtotallywipeoutthegainsfromAmerica'sexpectedreductionsinthe
year2030,afterwehavehadtospendbillionsandbillionsofdollars,lostjobs,closedfactories,andsufferedmuchhigher
energycostsforourbusinessesandforourhomes.

AstheWallStreetJournalwrotethismorning:TherealityisthatwithdrawingisinAmericaseconomicinterest
andwontmattermuchtotheclimate.TheUnitedStates,undertheTrumpadministration,willcontinuetobethe
cleanestandmostenvironmentallyfriendlycountryonEarth.We'llbethecleanest.We'regoingtohavethecleanestair.
We'regoingtohavethecleanestwater.Wewillbeenvironmentallyfriendly,butwe'renotgoingtoputourbusinessesout
ofworkandwe'renotgoingtoloseourjobs.We'regoingtogrowwe'regoingtogrowrapidly.(Applause.)

AndIthinkyoujustreaditjustcameoutminutesago,thesmallbusinessreportsmallbusinessesasofjust
nowarebooming,hiringpeople.Oneofthebestreportsthey'veseeninmanyyears.

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6/1/2017 Vice Mail - Statement by President Trump on the Paris Climate Accord

ImwillingtoimmediatelyworkwithDemocraticleaderstoeithernegotiateourwaybackintoParis,underthe
termsthatarefairtotheUnitedStatesanditsworkers,ortonegotiateanewdealthatprotectsourcountryandits
taxpayers.(Applause.)

Soiftheobstructionistswanttogettogetherwithme,letsmakethemnonobstructionists.Wewillallsitdown,
andwewillgetbackintothedeal.Andwellmakeitgood,andwewontbeclosingupourfactories,andwewontbe
losingourjobs.AndwellsitdownwiththeDemocratsandallofthepeoplethatrepresenteithertheParisAccordor
somethingthatwecandothat'smuchbetterthantheParisAccord.AndIthinkthepeopleofourcountrywillbethrilled,
andIthinkthenthepeopleoftheworldwillbethrilled.Butuntilwedothat,we'reoutoftheagreement.

IwillworktoensurethatAmericaremainstheworldsleaderonenvironmentalissues,butunderaframework
thatisfairandwheretheburdensandresponsibilitiesareequallysharedamongthemanynationsallaroundtheworld.

Noresponsibleleadercanputtheworkersandthepeopleoftheircountryatthisdebilitatingandtremendous
disadvantage.ThefactthattheParisdealhamstringstheUnitedStates,whileempoweringsomeoftheworldstop
pollutingcountries,shoulddispelanydoubtastotherealreasonwhyforeignlobbyistswishtokeepourmagnificent
countrytiedupandbounddownbythisagreement:ItstogivetheircountryaneconomicedgeovertheUnitedStates.
That'snotgoingtohappenwhileImPresident.Imsorry.(Applause.)

MyjobasPresidentistodoeverythingwithinmypowertogiveAmericaalevelplayingfieldandtocreatethe
economic,regulatoryandtaxstructuresthatmakeAmericathemostprosperousandproductivecountryonEarth,and
withthehigheststandardoflivingandthehigheststandardofenvironmentalprotection.

OurtaxbillismovingalonginCongress,andIbelieveitsdoingverywell.Ithinkalotofpeoplewillbevery
pleasantlysurprised.TheRepublicansareworkingvery,veryhard.WedlovetohavesupportfromtheDemocrats,but
wemayhavetogoitalone.Butitsgoingverywell.

TheParisAgreementhandicapstheUnitedStateseconomyinordertowinpraisefromtheveryforeigncapitals
andglobalactiviststhathavelongsoughttogainwealthatourcountrysexpense.TheydontputAmericafirst.Ido,and
Ialwayswill.(Applause.)

ThesamenationsaskingustostayintheagreementarethecountriesthathavecollectivelycostAmericatrillions
ofdollarsthroughtoughtradepracticesand,inmanycases,laxcontributionstoourcriticalmilitaryalliance.Yousee
whatshappening.Itsprettyobvioustothosethatwanttokeepanopenmind.

AtwhatpointdoesAmericagetdemeaned?Atwhatpointdotheystartlaughingatusasacountry?Wewant
fairtreatmentforitscitizens,andwewantfairtreatmentforourtaxpayers.Wedontwantotherleadersandother
countrieslaughingatusanymore.Andtheywontbe.Theywontbe.

IwaselectedtorepresentthecitizensofPittsburgh,notParis.(Applause.)IpromisedIwouldexitorrenegotiate
anydealwhichfailstoserveAmericasinterests.Manytradedealswillsoonbeunderrenegotiation.Veryrarelydowe
haveadealthatworksforthiscountry,buttheyllsoonbeunderrenegotiation.Theprocesshasbegunfromdayone.
Butnowweredowntobusiness.

BeyondthesevereenergyrestrictionsinflictedbytheParisAccord,itincludesyetanotherschemetoredistribute
wealthoutoftheUnitedStatesthroughthesocalledGreenClimateFundnicenamewhichcallsfordeveloped
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6/1/2017 Vice Mail - Statement by President Trump on the Paris Climate Accord
countriestosend$100billiontodevelopingcountriesallontopofAmericasexistingandmassiveforeignaidpayments.
Soweregoingtobepayingbillionsandbillionsandbillionsofdollars,andwerealreadywayaheadofanybodyelse.
Manyoftheothercountrieshaventspentanything,andmanyofthemwillneverpayonedime.

TheGreenFundwouldlikelyobligatetheUnitedStatestocommitpotentiallytensofbillionsofdollarsofwhich
theUnitedStateshasalreadyhandedover$1billionnobodyelseisevenclosemostofthemhaventevenpaid
anythingincludingfundsraidedoutofAmericasbudgetforthewaragainstterrorism.Thatswheretheycame.Believe
me,theydidntcomefromme.TheycamejustbeforeIcameintooffice.Notgood.Andnotgoodthewaytheytookthe
money.

In2015,theUnitedNation'sdepartingtopclimateofficialsreportedlydescribedthe$100billionperyearas
peanuts,andstatedthat"the$100billionisthetailthatwagsthedog."In2015,theGreenClimateFundsexecutive
directorreportedlystatedthatestimatedfundingneededwouldincreaseto$450billionperyearafter2020.Andnobody
evenknowswherethemoneyisgoingto.Nobodyhasbeenabletosay,whereisitgoingto?

Ofcourse,theworldstoppollutershavenoaffirmativeobligationsundertheGreenFund,whichweterminated.
Americais$20trillionindebt.Cashstrappedcitiescannothireenoughpoliceofficersorfixvitalinfrastructure.Millionsof
ourcitizensareoutofwork.Andyet,undertheParisAccord,billionsofdollarsthatoughttobeinvestedrightherein
Americawillbesenttotheverycountriesthathavetakenourfactoriesandourjobsawayfromus.Sothinkofthat.

Thereareseriouslegalandconstitutionalissuesaswell.ForeignleadersinEurope,Asia,andacrosstheworld
shouldnothavemoretosaywithrespecttotheU.S.economythanourowncitizensandtheirelectedrepresentatives.
Thus,ourwithdrawalfromtheagreementrepresentsareassertionofAmericassovereignty.(Applause.)Our
Constitutionisuniqueamongallthenationsoftheworld,anditismyhighestobligationandgreatesthonortoprotectit.
AndIwill.

StayingintheagreementcouldalsoposeseriousobstaclesfortheUnitedStatesaswebegintheprocessof
unlockingtherestrictionsonAmericasabundantenergyreserves,whichwehavestartedverystrongly.Itwouldonce
havebeenunthinkablethataninternationalagreementcouldpreventtheUnitedStatesfromconductingitsowndomestic
economicaffairs,butthisisthenewrealitywefaceifwedonotleavetheagreementorifwedonotnegotiateafarbetter
deal.

Therisksgrowashistoricallytheseagreementsonlytendtobecomemoreandmoreambitiousovertime.In
otherwords,theParisframeworkisastartingpointasbadasitisnotanendpoint.Andexitingtheagreement
protectstheUnitedStatesfromfutureintrusionsontheUnitedStates'sovereigntyandmassivefuturelegalliability.
Believeme,wehavemassivelegalliabilityifwestayin.

AsPresident,Ihaveoneobligation,andthatobligationistotheAmericanpeople.TheParisAccordwould
undermineoureconomy,hamstringourworkers,weakenoursovereignty,imposeunacceptablelegalrisks,andputusat
apermanentdisadvantagetotheothercountriesoftheworld.ItistimetoexittheParisAccord(applause)andtime
topursueanewdealthatprotectstheenvironment,ourcompanies,ourcitizens,andourcountry.

ItistimetoputYoungstown,Ohio,Detroit,Michigan,andPittsburgh,Pennsylvaniaalongwithmany,many
otherlocationswithinourgreatcountrybeforeParis,France.ItistimetomakeAmericagreatagain.(Applause.)
Thankyou.Thankyou.Thankyouverymuch.

Thankyouverymuch.Veryimportant.IdliketoaskScottPruitt,whomostofyouknowandrespect,asIdo,
justtosayafewwords.

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Scott,please.(Applause.)

ADMINISTRATORPRUITT:Thankyou,Mr.President.YourdecisiontodaytoexittheParisAccordreflectsyour
unflinchingcommitmenttoputAmericafirst.

Andbyexiting,you'refulfillingyetonemorecampaignpromisetotheAmericanpeople.PleaseknowthatIam
thankfulforyourfortitude,yourcourage,andyoursteadfastnessasyouserveandleadourcountry.

Americafinallyhasaleaderwhoanswersonlytothepeoplenottothespecialinterestswhohavehadtheir
wayforwaytoolong.Ineverythingyoudo,Mr.President,you'refightingfortheforgottenmenandwomenacrossthis
country.You'reachampionforthehardworkingcitizensallacrossthislandwhojustwantagovernmentthatlistensto
themandrepresentstheirinterest.

YouhavepromisedtoputAmericaFirstinallthatyoudo,andyou'vedonethatinanynumberofwaysfrom
trade,tonationalsecurity,toprotectingourborder,torightsizingWashington,D.C.Andtodayyou'veputAmericafirst
withregardtointernationalagreementsandtheenvironment.

ThisisanhistoricrestorationofAmericaneconomicindependenceonethatwillbenefittheworkingclass,the
workingpoor,andworkingpeopleofallstripes.Withthisaction,youhavedeclaredthatthepeoplearerulersofthis
countryonceagain.Anditshouldbenotedthatweasanationdoitbetterthananyoneintheworldinstrikingthe
balancebetweengrowingoureconomy,growingjobswhilealsobeingagoodstewardofourenvironment.

Weowenoapologiestoothernationsforourenvironmentalstewardship.Afterall,beforetheParisAccordwas
eversigned,AmericahadreduceditsCO2footprinttolevelsfromtheearly1990s.Infact,betweentheyears2000and
2014,theUnitedStatesreduceditscarbonemissionsby18pluspercent.Andthiswasaccomplishednotthrough
governmentmandate,butaccomplishedthroughinnovationandtechnologyoftheAmericanprivatesector.

Forthatreason,Mr.President,youhavecorrectedaviewthatwasparamountinParisthatsomehowtheUnited
Statesshouldpenalizeitsowneconomy,beapologetic,leadwithourchin,whiletherestofworlddoeslittle.Other
nationstalkagoodgameweleadwithactionnotwords.(Applause.)

Ourefforts,Mr.President,asyouknow,shouldbeonexportingourtechnology,ourinnovationtonationswho
seektoreducetheirCO2footprinttolearnfromus.Thatshouldbeourfocusversusagreeingtounachievabletargets
thatharmoureconomyandtheAmericanpeople.

Mr.President,ittakescourage,ittakescommitmenttosaynototheplauditsofmenwhiledoingwhatsrightby
theAmericanpeople.Youhavethatcourage,andtheAmericanpeoplecantakecomfortbecauseyouhavetheirbacks.

Thankyou,Mr.President.

END4:03P.M.EDT

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6/1/2017 Vice Mail - Statement by President Trump on the Paris Climate Accord

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