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Trump scraps key climate regulation in White House announcement
President Donald Trump announced the repeal of a 2009 Obama administration finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health, marking one of his most significant environmental policy reversals to date. The move, unveiled at the White House on Thursday, dismantles the legal foundation for federal emissions regulations on vehicles, power plants, and other pollution sources.
Political messaging takes center stage
Trump framed the decision as a victory over what he called the Democratic Party's "radical" climate agenda, a theme Republicans have emphasized in past election cycles. Speaking to reporters, he described the 2009 "endangerment finding" as the cornerstone of the "Green New Scam," a term frequently used by GOP lawmakers to criticize Democratic environmental proposals.
The president dismissed climate science underpinning the Obama-era rule, characterizing it as politically motivated. His remarks often resembled a campaign rally, with repeated jabs at Democratic opponents and a focus on economic arguments over scientific consensus.
Economic claims and industry impact
Trump argued that reversing the endangerment finding would lower energy costs for consumers and benefit the U.S. auto industry. He specifically targeted electric vehicle policies, claiming the move would eliminate a "mandate" imposed by former President Joe Biden-though no federal law currently requires consumers to purchase EVs.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who joined Trump for the announcement, called the 2009 ruling the "holy grail of climate change religion." Both men portrayed the repeal as a strike against excessive federal regulations, with Zeldin declaring it "the single largest act of deregulation in U.S. history." He added that past climate policies had "strangled entire sectors of the economy."
Backlash from Democrats and environmental groups
The decision drew immediate condemnation from Democrats and climate advocates. Former President Barack Obama criticized the move on social media, warning it would undermine U.S. efforts to combat climate change and prioritize fossil fuel industry profits over public health.
Trump's action builds on his first-term environmental rollbacks, including the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate accord. He repeated that decision at the start of his second term, reversing Biden's move to rejoin the international agreement. The latest policy shift represents the most sweeping reversal of Democratic climate initiatives to date.
Electoral implications and public opinion
The timing of the announcement revives a contentious issue ahead of November's midterm elections, where control of Congress hangs in the balance. Trump and Republicans have long argued that Democratic climate policies are extreme, but public opinion data suggests growing concern about global warming.
A 2024 Yale Program on Climate Change Communication study found that 63% of Americans worry about global warming, while a 2025 Gallup poll showed a record 48% of adults believe it will pose a serious threat in their lifetime-up from 25% in 1997.
When asked about potential public backlash, Trump dismissed concerns, declaring the era of climate regulations "dead, gone, over."
