MIKE PENCE
Good afternoon.
Secretary Mnuchin , Secretary Ross, EPA
Administrator Scott Pruitt, members of Congress, distinguished
guests, on behalf of the First Family, welcome to the White
House.
You know, it's the greatest privilege of my life to serve as
Vice President to a president who is fighting every day to make
America great again. Since the first day of this administration,
President
Donald Trump has been working tirelessly to keep the
promises that he made to the American people.
President Trump has
been reforming health care, enforcing our laws, ending illegal
immigration, rebuilding our military, and this president has
been rolling back excessive regulations and unfair trade
practices that were stifling American jobs.
Thanks to President
Trump's leadership, American business are growing again,
investing in America again, and they're creating jobs in this
country instead of shipping jobs overseas. Thanks to President
Donald Trump, America is back.
And just last week we all witnessed the bold leadership of an
American president on the world stage, putting America first.
From the Middle East to Europe, as leader of the free world,
President Trump reaffirmed historic alliances, forged new
relationships, and called on the wider world to confront the
threat of terrorism in new and renewed ways.
And by the action the
president will announce today, the American people and the wider
world will see once again, our president is choosing to put
American jobs and American consumers first.
Our president is
choosing to put American energy and American industry first. And
by his action today, President Donald Trump is choosing to put
the forgotten men and women of America first.
So with gratitude for his leadership and admiration for his
unwavering commitment to the American people, it is now my high
honor and distinct privilege to introduce to all of you the
President of the United States of America - President Donald
Trump.
DONALD TRUMP
Thank you very much. Thank you.
I would like to begin
by addressing the terrorist attack in Manila. We're closely
monitoring the situation and I will continue to give updates,
anything happens during this period of time, but it is really
very sad as to what's going on throughout the world with terror.
Our thoughts and our prayers are with all of those affected.
Before we discuss
the Paris Accord, I'd like to begin with an
update on our tremendous, absolutely tremendous, economic
progress since election day on Nov. 8. The economy is starting
to come back and very, very rapidly.
We've added $3.3 trillion in stock market value to our economy
and more than a million private sector jobs.
I've just returned
from a trip overseas where we concluded nearly $350 billion of
military and economic development for the United States,
creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. It was a very, very
successful trip, believe me.
In my meetings at
the G7, we have taken historic steps to demand
fair and reciprocal trade that gives Americans a level playing
field against other nations. We're also working very hard for
peace in the Middle East, and perhaps even peace between the
Israelis and the Palestinians.
Our attacks on
terrorism are greatly stepped up and you see that, you see it
all over.
From the previous
administration, including getting many other countries to make
major contributions to the fight against terror. Big big
contributions are being made by countries that weren't doing so
much in the form of contribution.
One by one, we are keeping the promises I made to the American
people during my campaign for president.
Whether it's cutting
job-killing regulations, appointing and confirming a tremendous
Supreme Court justice, putting in place tough new ethics rules,
achieving a record reduction in illegal immigration on our
southern border, or bringing jobs, plants and factories back
into the United States at numbers which no one, until this
point, thought even possible. And believe me, we've just begun.
The fruits of our
labor will be seen very shortly, even more so.
On these issues, and so many more, we're following through on
our commitments and I don't want anything to get in our way. I
am fighting every day for the great people of this country.
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 re-enter, either the Paris Accord or
in, 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.
As president, I can put no other consideration before the
well-being of American citizens. The Paris Climate Accord is
simply the latest example of Washington entering into an
agreement that disadvantages the United States, to the exclusive
benefit of other countries, leaving American workers, who I
love, and taxpayers to absorb the cost in terms of lost jobs,
lowered wages, shuttered factories and vastly diminished
economic production.
Thus as of today, the
United States will cease all implementation of the non-binding
Paris Accord and the draconian financial and economic burdens
the agreement imposes on our country.
This includes ending the
implementation of the nationally determined contribution and,
very importantly, the
Green Climate Fund, which is costing the
United States a vast fortune.
Compliance with the terms of the Paris Accord and the onerous
energy restrictions it has placed on the United States could
cost America as much as $2.7 million lost jobs by 2025,
according to the National Economic Research Associates.
This includes 440,000
fewer manufacturing jobs - not what we need, believe me, this is
not what we need, including automobile jobs and the further
decimation of vital American industries on which countless
communities rely. They rely for so much and we would be giving
them so little.
According to this same study, by 2040, compliance with the
commitments put into place by the previous administration, would
cut production for the following sectors:
The cost to the
economy at this time would be close to three trillion dollars in
lost GDP and 6.5 million industrial jobs, while households would
have $7,000 less income and, in many cases, much worse than
that.
Not only does this deal subject our citizens to harsh economic
restrictions, it fails to live up to our environmental ideals.
As someone who cares deeply about the environment, which I do, I
cannot in good conscience support a deal that punishes the
United States, which is what it does.
The world's leader in
environmental protection while imposing no meaningful
obligations on the world's leading polluters.
For example, under the agreement, China will be able to increase
the emissions by a staggering number of years - 13. They can do
whatever they want for 13 years. Not us. India makes its
participation contingent on receiving billions and billions and
billions of dollars in foreign aid from developed countries.
There are many other
examples but the bottom line is that the Paris Accord is very
unfair at the highest level to the United States.
Further, while the current agreement effectively blocks the
development of clean coal in America, which it does and the
mines are starting to open up, we're having a big opening in two
weeks, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, so many places. A big
opening of a big new mine, it's unheard of. For many many years,
that hasn't happened. They asked me if I'd go. I'm going to try.
China will be allowed to build hundreds of additional coal
plants. So, we can't build the plants, but they can, according
to this agreement.
India will be allowed to double its coal production by 2020.
Think of it. India can double its coal production. We're
supposed to get rid of ours. Even Europe is allowed to continue
construction of coal plants.
In short, the agreement doesn't eliminate coal jobs. It just
transfers those jobs out of America and the United States and
ships them to foreign countries.
This agreement is
less about the climate and more about other countries gaining a
financial advantage over the United States. The rest of the
world applauded when we signed the Paris Agreement. They went
wild. They were so happy.
For the simple reason that it put our country, the United States
of America, which we all love, at a very very big economic
disadvantage.
A cynic would say the
obvious reason for economic competitors and their wish to see us
remain in the agreement is so that we continue to suffer this
self-inflicted, major economic wound. We would find it very hard
to compete with other countries from other parts of the world.
We have among the most abundant energy reserves in the planet,
sufficient to lift millions of America's poorest workers out of
poverty. Yet under this agreement, we are effectively putting
these reserves under lock and key, taking away the great wealth
of our nation. It's great wealth. It's phenomenal wealth.
Not so long ago, we
had no idea we had such wealth. And leaving millions and
millions of families trapped in poverty and joblessness. The
agreement is a massive redistribution of United States' wealth
to other countries.
At one percent growth, renewable sources of energy can meet some
of our domestic demand but at three or four percent growth,
which I expect, we need all forms of available American energy
or our country will be at grave risk of brownouts and blackouts.
Our businesses will come to a halt, in many cases, and the
American family will suffer the consequences in the form of lost
jobs and a very diminished quality of life. Even if the Paris
Agreement were implemented in full, with total compliance from
all nations, it is estimated it would only produce a 2/10 (0.2) of one
degree - think of that.
This much… Celsius
reduction in global temperature by the year 2100. Tiny tiny
amount.
In fact, fourteen days of carbon emissions from China alone
would wipe out the gains from America...and this is an
incredible statistic, would totally wipe out the gains from
America's expected reductions in the year 2030.
After we've had to
spend billions and billions of dollars, lost jobs and closed
factories and suffered much higher energy cost for our
businesses and for our homes.
As the Wall Street Journal wrote this morning, the reality is
that withdrawing is in America's economic interest and won't
matter much to the climate. The United States, under the Trump
administration, will continue to be the cleanest and most
environmentally-friendly country on earth.
We'll be the
cleanest. We're going to have the cleanest air. We're going to
have the cleanest water. We will be environmentally-friendly but
we're not going to put our business out of work. We're not going
to lose our jobs. We're going to grow. We're going to grow
rapidly.
And I think you just read, it just came out minutes ago, the
Small Business Report, small businesses as of just now are
booming... hiring people, one of the best reports they've seen
in many years.
I'm willing to immediately work with Democratic leaders to
either negotiate our way back into Paris under the terms that
are fair to the United States and its workers or to negotiate a
new deal that protects our country and its taxpayers.
So if the obstructionists want to get together with me, let's
make them non- obstructionists.
We will all sit down
and we will get back into the deal and we will make it good and
we won't be closing up our factories and we won't be losing our
jobs and we'll sit down with the Democrats and all of the people
who represent either the Paris Accord or something we can do
that's much better than the Paris Accord and I think the people
of our country will be thrilled. And I think the people of the
world will be thrilled.
But until we do that,
we're out of the agreement.
I will work to ensure that America remains the world's leader on
environmental issues but under a framework that is fair and
where the burdens and responsibilities are equally shared among
the many nations all around the world. No responsible leader can
put the workers and the people of their country at this
debilitating and tremendous disadvantage.
The fact that the
Paris deal hamstrings the United States while empowering some of
the world's top-polluting countries should dispel any doubt as
to the real reason why foreign lobbyists wish to keep our
magnificent country tied up and bound down by this agreement.
It's to give their
country an economic edge over the United States. That's not
going to happen while I'm president. I'm sorry.
My job as president is to do everything within my power to give
America a level playing field and to create the economic,
regulatory and tax structures that make America the most
prosperous and productive country on earth. And with the highest
standard of living and the highest standard of environmental
protection.
Our tax bill is moving along in Congress, and I believe it's
doing very well. I think a lot of people will be very pleasantly
surprised.
The Republicans are
working very hard. We'd love to have support from the Democrats
but we may have to go it alone. But it's going very well.
The Paris Agreement handicaps the United States' economy in
order to win praise from the very foreign capitals and global
activists that have long sought to gain wealth at our country's
expense. They don't put America first. I do. And I always will.
The same nations asking us to stay in the agreement are the
countries that have collectively cost America trillions of
dollars through tough trade practices and, in many cases, lax
contributions to our critical military alliance.
You see what's
happening. It's pretty obvious to those that want to keep an
open mind.
At what point does America get demeaned? At what point do they
start laughing at us, as a country? We want fair treatment for
its citizens and we want fair treatment for our taxpayers. We
don't want other leaders and other countries laughing at us
anymore. And they won't be. They won't be.
I was elected to
represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.
I promised I would exit and renegotiate any deal which fails to
serve America's interest. Many trade deals will soon be under
renegotiation. Very rarely do we have a deal that works rot his
country. But they'll soon be under renegotiation. The process
has begun from day one.
But now we're down to business.
Beyond the severe
energy restrictions inflicted by the Paris accord, it includes
yet another scheme to redistribute wealth out of the United
States through the so-called Green Climate Fund, nice name,
which calls for developed countries to send $100 billion to
developing countries, all on top of America's existing and
massive foreign aid payments.
So we're going to be
paying billions and billions and billions of dollars and we're
already way ahead of anyone else. Many other countries haven't
spent anything. And many of them will never pay one dime.
The Green Fund would likely obligate the United States to commit
potentially tens of billions of dollars, of which the United
States has already handed over $1 billion. Nobody else is even
close. Most of them haven't even paid anything. Including funds
raided out of America's budget for the war against terrorism.
That's where they
came. Believe me, they didn't come from me. They came just
before I came into office. Not good. And not good the way they
took the money.
In 2015, the United Nations' departing top climate officials
reportedly described the 100 billion dollars per year as
"peanuts." And stated that the 100 billion dollars is the tail
that wags the dog. In 2015, the
Green Climate Fund's executive
director reportedly stated that estimated funding needed would
increase to $450 billion per year after 2020 and nobody even
knows where they money is going to.
Nobody's been able to
say, where is it going to?
Of course, the world's top polluters have no affirmative
obligations under the Green Fund, which we terminated.
America
is twenty trillion dollars in debt, cash-strapped cities cannot
hire enough police officers or fix vile infrastructure, millions
of our citizens are out of work and yet, under the Paris Accord,
billions of dollars that ought to be invested right there in
America, will be sent to the very countries that have taken our
factories and our jobs away from us.
So think of that.
There are serious legal and constitutional issues as well.
Foreign leaders in Europe, Asia and across the world should not
have more to say with respect to the U.S. economy than our own
citizens and their elected representatives. Thus our withdrawal
from the agreement represents a reassertion of America's
sovereignty.
Our Constitution is unique among all nations of the world and it
is my highest obligation and greatest honor to protect it. And I
will. Staying in the agreement could also pose serious obstacles
for the United States as we begin the process of unlocking the
restrictions on America's abundant energy reserves, which we
have started, very strongly.
It would once have been unthinkable that an international
agreement could prevent the United States from conducting its
own domestic economic affairs. But this is the new reality we
face if we do not leave the agreement or if we do not negotiate
a far better deal.
The risks grow as historically, these agreements only tend to
become more and more ambitious over time.
In other words, the
Paris framework is just a starting point, as bad as it is. Not
an end point. And exiting the agreement protects the United
States from future intrusions on the United States' sovereignty
and massive future legal liability. Believe me, we have massive
legal liability if we stay in.
As president, I have one obligation and that obligation is to
the American people. The Paris Accord would undermine our
economy, hamstring our workers, weaken our sovereignty, impose
unacceptable legal risk and put us at a permanent disadvantage
to the other countries of the world.
It is time to exit the Paris Accord. And time to pursue a new
deal that protects the environment, our companies, our citizens
and our country.
It is time to put Youngstown, Ohio; Detroit,
Mich.; and Pittsburgh, Pa.; along with many many other locations
in our country, before Paris, France.
It is time to make
America great again.
Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you very much. Very important. I'd like to ask
Scott Pruitt, who most of you know and respect, as I do, just to
say a few words.
Scott, please.
SCOTT PRUITT
Thank you, Mr. President.
Your decision today
to exit the Paris Accord reflects your unflinching commitment to
put America first and by exiting, you're fulfilling yet one more
campaign promise to the American people.
Please know that I'm
thankful for your fortitude, your courage, and your
steadfastness as you serve and lead our country.
America finally has a leader who answers only to the people, not
to the special interests who've had their way for way too long.
In everything you do, Mr. President, you're fighting for the
forgotten men and women across this country. You're a champion
for the hardworking citizens all across this land who just want
a government that listens to them and represents their interest.
You have promised to put America first in all that you do and
you've done that in any number of ways, from trade to national
security, to protecting our border, to rightsizing Washington
D.C. And today, you've put America first, with regard to
international agreements and the environment.
This is an historic restoration of American economic
independence, one that will benefit the working class, the
working poor, and working people of all stripes.
With this action, you
have declared that the people are rulers of this country once
again. And it should be noted, that we as a nation do it better
than anyone in the world, in striking the balance between
growing our economy, growing jobs, while also being a good
steward of our environment.
We owe no apologies
to other nations for our environmental stewardship. After all,
before the Paris Accord was ever signed, America had reduced its
CO2 footprint to levels from the early 1990s.
In fact, between the year 2000 and 2014, the United States
reduced its carbon emissions by 18 plus percent. And this was
accomplished, not through government mandate, but accomplished
through innovation and technology of the American private
sector.
For that reason, Mr.
President, you have corrected a view that was paramount in
Paris, that somehow the United States should penalize its own
economy, be apologetic, lead with our chin, while the rest of
the world does little.
Other nations talk a
good game. We lead with action, not words.
Our efforts, Mr. President, as you know, should be on exporting
our technology, our innovation, to nations who seek to reduce
their
CO² footprint to learn from us.
That should be our
focus, versus agreeing to unachievable targets that harm our
economy and the American people.
Mr. President, it takes courage, it takes commitment to say no
to the plaudits of men, while doing what's right by the American
people. You have that courage and the American people can take
comfort because you have their backs.
Thank you Mr. President.
