Sen. Ted Cruz blasted President Biden’s decision to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement after former President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. from the pact.
“By rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, President Biden indicates he’s more interested in the views of the citizens of Paris than in the jobs of the citizens of Pittsburgh,” the Texas Republican tweeted Wednesday. “This agreement will do little to affect the climate and will harm the livelihoods of Americans.”
By rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, President Biden indicates he’s more interested in the views of the citizens of Paris than in the jobs of the citizens of Pittsburgh. This agreement will do little to affect the climate and will harm the livelihoods of Americans.
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) January 20, 2021
“Rejoining the Paris agreement isn’t about ‘restoring America’s leadership abroad’ or ‘solving the climate crisis,’ but instead it is about Democrats’ plans to destroy jobs they don’t like – including thousands of manufacturing jobs – and cede control of our energy future to other countries,” Cruz’s statement reads.
In 2017, Trump used similar terminology when justifying his decision to pull out of the agreement, which focuses on cutting carbon emissions.
“I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris,” Trump said at the time. “I promised I would exit or renegotiate any deal which fails to serve America’s interests.”
Biden submitted a letter of intent to reenter the agreement on his first day in office Wednesday, fulfilling a campaign promise.
“The window for meaningful action is now very narrow — we have no time to waste,” Dr. M. Sanjayan, chief executive of Conservation International, an environmental advocacy group, said about the move. “President Biden’s action today is certainly a step in the right direction.”
