World leaders respond to President Trump's exit from Paris climate deal
WASHINGTON (Sinclair Broadcast Group) – President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement elicited a large response from world leaders, United States lawmakers and business executives.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni issued a joint statement following Trump’s remarks Thursday. The three countries said the accord was "irreversible and we firmly believe that the Paris Agreement cannot be renegotiated."
House Speaker Paul Ryan took to Twitter praising the president’s decision calling it a “raw deal” for America.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the departure from the agreement "a devastating failure of historic proportions" — and "one of the worst policy moves made in the 21st century."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called the president's choice "a stunning abdication of American leadership and a grave threat to our planet's future."
Former President Barack Obama said President Trump is joining "a small handful of nations that reject the future." He added, those countries that remain in the agreement will "reap the benefits in "jobs and industries created." He believes U.S. should be "at the front of the pack."
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said "the decision by the United States to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change is a major disappointment for global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote global security."
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt refused to say during the White House press briefing Friday if the President believes in climate change. He reiterated several times that the administrations singular focus was whether the climate deal would be good or bad for the American people.
The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Theresa May called President Trump after his announcement and expressed her disappointment in his decision, according to a Downing Street Official. The official added that the U.K. "remained committed to the Paris Agreement."
Erik Solheim, U.N. Environment chief, said he was confident the U.S. departure will not impede upon the efforts of the agreement.
“A single political decision will not derail this unparalleled effort," Solheim said.
CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Elon Musk, announced he was leaving the president's infrastructure council, manufacturing jobs council and strategic and policy forum.
“Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world,” Musk said.
In a post the Facebook CEO, Mark Mark Zuckerberg said the decision was "bad for the environment, bad for the economy, and it puts our children's future at risk."
But General Motors Co. Chairman and CEO Mary Barra, said she would remain a part of President Trump's Strategy and Policy Forum. In a separate statement, she also said "international agreements aside, we remain committed to creating a better environment."
To see more of the world’s reaction to the President’s remarks on the Paris accord check out our timeline.
