Trump Brazenly Lies About His Environmental Record
Donald Trump's record of lies is unparalleled in history, and he is now mastering the "big lie," false statements so brazen and ludicrous that no rational person could believe them. For instance he claims China is paying for his tariffs [nope, we do], and that he was cleared of wrong-doing by the Mueller Report [any other American would have been indicted], or Hillary only won the popular vote because of voter fraud [even his own voter fraud commission couldn't find any fraud]. He seems to think that if he repeats them enough that some voters will eventually believe him, and he is probably right.
Trump's internal polling must show some weakness on the environment, because he is now applying his "big lie" strategy to that issue. In a recent White House speech the President tried to make the argument that his administration was working to enhance America's environment.
Washington Post: “We want the cleanest air, we want crystal clear water. And that’s what we’re doing,” he said. “These are incredible goals that everyone in this country can rally behind, and they are rallying behind.”
The audacity is breathtaking. Since his first day in office, President Trump has worked to undermine years of work to protect endangered species and the environment, and combat climate change.
The New York Times: "Mr. Trump listed what he cast as accomplishments in addressing air pollution, carbon emissions, hazardous sites and lead exposure — taking credit for trends that preceded his administration or actions mandated by courts. Left unaddressed were his effort to weaken environmental standards by rolling back regulations and his record of putting former industry executives and lobbyists in key policymaking positions."
The Washington Post: "But Trump’s recounting of his accomplishments prompted howls of incredulity from environmentalists, who noted that he had systematically dismantled dozens of policies over the past two and-a-half years aimed at safeguarding human health and the planet. Last month the EPA eased curbs on carbon emissions from power plants; next month it is slated to finalize a rule freezing tougher mileage standards for cars and pickup trucks."
National Geographic keeps a running list of Trump's attacks on the environment. It's a depressing read, but the administration also has more subtle ways to roll back environmental protections.
Illuminate: "Trump administration officials have focused their attacks on executive branch regulatory agencies, especially the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]. They determined quickly that the easiest way to undermine environmental regulations was to simply stop enforcing them."
It's interesting to note that the President didn't mention climate change in his speech yesterday. He is betting that his core voters and independents will forgive inaction on greenhouse gases as long as he is not seen as too hostile to other environmental concerns. That strategy will only work if we let him get away with another "big lie."
By Don Lam & Curated Content
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