President Trump doubled down on his connection of riots in France over fuel tax increases to the Paris climate accords in a morning tweet Saturday.
“People do not want to pay large sums of money, much to third world countries (that are questionably run), in order to maybe protect the environment,” he said.
The Paris Agreement isn’t working out so well for Paris. Protests and riots all over France. People do not want to pay large sums of money, much to third world countries (that are questionably run), in order to maybe protect the environment. Chanting “We Want Trump!” Love France.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 8, 2018
The French protests, by a group referred to as the gilets jaunes for their yellow vests, began about a month ago over increases in fuel taxes and have been violent. The nationwide protesters also want a higher minimum wage and are critical of French President Emmanuel Macron’s economic policies.
The higher fuel taxes in question were aimed at helping reduce pollution from vehicles by encouraging drivers to get more environmentally friendly vehicles, but critics say they disproportionately affect poor and rural drivers.
Trump announced in 2017 he would withdraw the U.S. from the international Paris climate agreement, part of which calls for a $100 billion-per-year trust fund to help developing nations affected by climate change.
It’s not the first time this week Trump has conflated the fuel tax protests with fuel prices under the climate change agreement, saying the agreement raises the price of energy.
While Trump has also previously retweeted the claim that French protesters chanted “We Want Trump!” he made in his Saturday tweet, it has not been reported protesters have done so.
