by Daniel Brouse
September 23, 2025
During his speech at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2025, Donald Trump once again spread false and misleading claims about climate change, echoing statements he made while in office and on the campaign trail. His rhetoric not only undermines science but also threatens global efforts to combat climate disasters.
Key False Claims
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“Climate change is the ‘greatest con job ever perpetuated on the world’”
Trump dismissed overwhelming scientific consensus. In 2023, over 99% of peer-reviewed studies confirmed that climate change is real and human-driven. Calling it a “con job” ignores decades of rigorous research from scientists worldwide. -
“Carbon footprint is a hoax”
By denying the concept of a carbon footprint, Trump rejects a basic tool for measuring human contributions to global warming. Carbon accounting is fundamental to understanding emissions and implementing policies to reduce them. -
“Climate predictions are wrong, made by stupid people”
This attacks the credibility of climate scientists who follow strict peer-reviewed methodologies. The IPCC and other expert bodies provide consensus-based predictions grounded in decades of observations and climate modeling. -
“The Green New Deal is a green scam”
Trump characterized climate policies as a “scam,” dismissing the real costs of extreme weather events, which have already cost businesses and taxpayers billions globally.
Scientific Consensus vs. Trump’s Claims
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Government reports: A November 2018 report from 13 U.S. federal agencies warned that unchecked climate change could cost the U.S. hundreds of billions annually. Trump dismissed this, saying, “I don’t believe it.”
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Expert analysis: In August 2025, experts called a climate report from Trump’s Department of Energy “a farce” riddled with misinformation and based on debunked research.
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Physical evidence: Satellite data show declining Arctic and Antarctic ice, accelerating sea-level rise, and increasing extreme weather events — contrary to Trump’s claims that polar ice is “at a record level.”
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International condemnation: Trump’s 2025 withdrawal from the Paris Agreement drew formal UN criticism, reflecting global concern over the U.S. abandoning international climate commitments.
Potential Consequences
Experts warn that Trump’s misinformation carries real risks:
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Distraction from action: The International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) warned that climate misinformation “turn[s the] crisis into a catastrophe” by delaying urgent interventions.
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Policy distortion: Suppressing data on climate costs benefits polluters while ignoring the societal and economic consequences of global warming.
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Disruptive rhetoric: During his first term, Trump rolled back over 100 environmental regulations. His anti-climate messaging, amplified by sympathetic media, signals a likely repeat of harmful policy decisions in a second term.
- Unreliable and Untrustworthy: Most importantly, Trump has undermined the U.S.’s reputation as a credible and dependable global partner. His attacks on science and scientists will not be forgotten and have significantly contributed to the accelerating decline of American leadership and credibility.
Conclusion
Trump’s statements at the UN are not harmless bluster — they are part of a broader pattern of denial and obstruction that jeopardizes scientific integrity, global cooperation, and public safety. The world faces increasingly urgent climate challenges, and misinforming the public only makes the crisis harder to solve.