Trump Calls Climate Change a Con Job at U.N. General Assembly

President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to attack climate science, describing climate change as the greatest con job ever perpetuated and a scam. He argued that the science has been distorted and warned that adopting green policies would undermine national economies. Speaking before an audience of more than 150 world leaders and officials, he asserted that many climate forecasts were incorrect and suggested those making the predictions had misled the public. He also framed the debate as a clash between U.S. energy independence and what he called a push for costly international mandates.

Trump also dismissed the idea that the carbon footprint concept is a measure of harm, saying it was a hoax created by people with evil intentions and that those advocating it are leading countries toward destruction. He urged other nations to reject green policies, arguing that an emphasis on climate action could sap economic strength. The remarks fit a broader pattern in his administration that has sought to minimize climate threats and shift energy policy toward fossil fuels and domestic production.

The speech came as scientific and international observers have long documented the scope of climate risks. The scientific consensus remains that warming is real and largely driven by human activity, contributing to hotter temperatures, more powerful storms, and greater drought risk. The United Nations has cited significant displacement linked to climate stress; UNHCR says as many as 220 million people have been internally displaced in the last decade by climate-related disasters. While Trump pointed to historical forecasts that did not come to pass, the ongoing impacts are not in dispute among researchers and many world leaders.

This stance mirrors a wider U.S. policy arc during the president's term. A Department of Energy report described climate change as less damaging economically than commonly believed, a claim met with denials from many scientists who said officials cherry-picked data to justify a fossil-fuel orientation. The administration also dismantled the State Department's office responsible for climate negotiations and rolled back regulations aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft engines. The United States had previously pulled out of the Paris climate accord, and Trump used the UN platform to tout energy exports as a bright spot for the country's economy.

Trump's remarks came on the eve of the 2025 UN Climate Summit, where participating countries will present new climate action plans. While the policy rhetoric at the General Assembly underscores a partisan divide over how to respond to climate risk, the summit will push for coordinated action among dozens of nations despite U.S. policy shifts.

Observers say the clash over climate science and policy will continue to shape U.S. politics as the administration and its detractors debate how to balance climate risk with economic growth. The UN climate summit next year will test international cooperation on climate and help frame the global discussion about emissions targets, adaptation, and finance.