In a pretty odd series of dueling reports today, the Trump administration said the Wall Street Journal was pushing FAKE NEWS, but then kinda affirmed what they said anyway.
Here’s what happened – the Journal posted this exclusive:
Trump administration won't pull out of Paris accord, offers to re-engage in climate deal, EU official says https://t.co/v9eHLcRtZH
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) September 16, 2017
From the story:
Trump administration officials said Saturday the U.S. wouldn’t pull out of the Paris Agreement, offering to re-engage in the international deal to fight climate change, according to the European Union’s top energy official.
The shift from President Donald Trump’s decision in June to withdraw to renegotiate the landmark accord or craft a new deal came during a meeting of more than 30 ministers led by Canada, China and the European Union in Montreal.
That’s pretty clear, right, Trump seems to have reversed himself.
The White House disagrees according to Axios:
They cited “EU climate officials” but a White House spokeswoman denied these reports, telling Axios:
“There has been no change in the United States’ position on the Paris agreement. As the President has made abundantly clear, the United States is withdrawing unless we can re-enter on terms that are more favorable to our country.”
BUT… the renegotiation clause is still the same. BOTH reports say he wants to re-negotiate the deal. The only difference is how its framed – one sounds like a capitulation while the other sounds like he’d stay in as long as the terms are better for the U.S.
Here’s what he said from his speech in June when he was applauded for getting us out of the accord:
Therefore, in order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord — (applause) — thank you, thank you — but begin negotiations to reenter either the Paris Accord or a really entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, its taxpayers. So we’re getting out. But we will start to negotiate, and we will see if we can make a deal that’s fair. And if we can, that’s great. And if we can’t, that’s fine.
So in other words, nobody knows what’s going on…
At least we still got to enjoy this liberal freak out over his announcement back then.