Washington: US President Donald Trump on Friday took a swipe at global warming concerns as weather forecasters warned that a powerful winter storm and severe cold wave would impact nearly two-thirds of the United States.
Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump questioned the concept of global warming after reports said around 40 US states were bracing for extreme cold.
“Record Cold Wave expected to hit 40 States. Rarely seen anything like it before. Could the Environmental Insurrectionists please explain — WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING???” Trump wrote.
Trump’s Longstanding Skepticism Of Climate Change
Trump has consistently expressed skepticism about climate change, repeatedly calling global warming a “hoax” and dismissing scientists’ warnings as part of a “political agenda.”
During his presidency:
- He withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement twice — once during his first term in 2020 and again at the start of his second term in 2025.
- He rolled back several clean energy and environmental regulations.
- He openly promoted fossil fuels, using the slogan “drill, baby, drill” to advocate increased oil and gas production.
The Republican leader has argued that expanding domestic energy production is essential for economic growth and national security.
Major Winter Storm Threatens Large Parts Of US
Trump’s remarks came as meteorologists warned of a huge winter storm expected to cause catastrophic damage, bitterly cold temperatures, and widespread power outages across much of the country.
The storm is forecast to impact the eastern two-thirds of the US, bringing heavy snow, ice, and dangerously low temperatures.
Flights Disrupted As Storm Approaches
Travel disruptions were already mounting ahead of the storm. According to flight-tracking website FlightAware:
- More than 1,500 flights within, into, or out of the US were delayed or cancelled on Friday
- Major airports affected include Dallas, Atlanta, and Oklahoma
Airlines warned passengers to expect further delays as the storm advances.
160 Million People Under Weather Alerts
Authorities said the scale of the storm is vast:
- Around 160 million people are under winter storm or cold weather watches and warnings
- In several regions, residents face both snow and extreme cold alerts
Emergency services across multiple states are on high alert as power utilities prepare for potential outages.
Climate Debate Reignited
Trump’s comments have reignited debate over climate change, with scientists repeatedly stating that extreme weather events — including severe cold snaps — are consistent with climate change trends, rather than contradicting them.
Nonetheless, the president has continued to challenge the scientific consensus, even as extreme weather increasingly disrupts daily life across the United States.