Now Donald Trump Says There's "Some Connectivity" Between Humans and Climate Change
Donald Trump appeared to once again revise his stance on climate change Tuesday, telling New York Times reporters that he believes there is "some connectivity" between human activity and the climate change.
Does Trump think human activity is linked to climate change? “I think there is some connectivity. Some, something. It depends on how much."
— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
On climate change, Trump says he is also thinking about "how much it will cost our companies” & the effect on American competitiveness.
— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
On the campaign trail, Trump said he was "not a big believer in man-made climate change." In recent years, he went so far as to called global warming a "hoax" and claim it was a Chinese conspiracy. In 2009, however, Trump was one of several high profile signatories of a full-page ad pressing for urgent climate action.
On Tuesday, the president-elect also reportedly hedged on his campaign promise to "cancel" the landmark Paris climate agreement during his first 100 days in office.
"I'm looking at it very closely," Trump said. "I have an open mind to it."
Tom Friedman asks if Trump will withdraw from climate change accords. Trump: “I’m looking at it very closely. I have an open mind to it."
— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
The statements come as Trump attempted to strike a conciliatory tone with the Times by agreeing to sit down for an on-the-record interview. The wide-ranging meeting, which touched on everything from Trump's potential conflicts of interest to whether he still hoped to prosecute Hillary Clinton, was nearly canceled after the president-elect momentarily believed the paper had tried to change the terms of the interview.
The failing @nytimes just announced that complaints about them are at a 15 year high. I can fully understand that - but why announce?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2016