California Governor Newsom Criticizes Trump's 'Stupid' Climate Policy in Munich - Newsom slams Trump's 'stupid' climate rollback as California fights back

California Governor Gavin Newsom has sharply criticised President Donald Trump after a major rollback of climate protection rules. The move reverses a 2009 regulation that classified greenhouse gases as a public health threat. Newsom called the decision 'stupid and destructive' while defending his state's progress on emissions cuts.

Trump's administration revoked the 2009 Endangerment Finding, stripping the EPA of its power to regulate emissions from vehicles, power plants, and the oil and gas sector. The White House also weakened fuel efficiency standards, cutting Biden's target of 50 miles per gallon down to 34.5 (around 6.8 litres per 100 km). Plans were announced to scrap vehicle emission rules entirely, potentially ending all state-level standards for cars and trucks.

Newsom accused Trump of serving fossil fuel interests, noting the president had received $1 billion in campaign donations from oil, gas, and coal companies. The governor framed California as a stable leader on climate, contrasting it with what he called Trump's short-term, industry-driven policies. He also dismissed the president's claims that emissions cuts were unrelated to public health, pointing to California's record of slashing greenhouse gases while expanding renewable energy jobs.

Trump has repeatedly called climate protection a 'hoax'. Newsom responded by calling the president's approach reckless and predicted his policies would not last, stating, 'In three years, he'll be gone.'

The revoked regulation removes federal oversight of key pollution sources. California's governor has positioned the state as a counterbalance, citing its economic and environmental gains from green energy. The clash highlights deep divisions over climate policy ahead of the next election cycle.