US President Donald Trump framed his sweeping rollback of federal climate policy as a political victory over the Democratic Party’s environmental agenda. Republicans used this message in past elections and could use it again before the crucial midterm elections in November. His announcement at the White House marked one of the most significant moves of his second term in office. Trump said he revoked an Obama-era endangerment finding from 2009 that stated pollution harms public health and the environment.
For almost 17 years, the United States used this scientific finding as the legal basis to establish policies that reduced emissions from cars, power plants, and other sources of planet-warming gases. Trump called the rule radical and said it became the legal foundation for Democratic climate policies. He described those policies as a political scheme and repeated language popular among Republicans.
A Decade-Long Push to Undo Climate Rules
The move marked the culmination of a decade-long effort by Trump to dismantle climate policies that Democrats and many experts consider necessary to cut emissions. This decision represents one of the most far-reaching reversals of US climate policy so far. Trump previously described climate change as a hoax and dismissed the science behind the Obama-era rule. His remarks sounded like a victory lap over his political opponents.
Trump treated the issue as political as much as scientific. He focused on economic impacts and argued that expanding fossil fuel production instead of clean energy would lower energy costs for consumers. He also highlighted the US auto industry as a major beneficiary of the change. Trump said ending the finding would remove an electric vehicle mandate created by former President Joe Biden. Biden’s policies expanded charging networks and tax incentives but did not force buyers to purchase electric vehicles.
Republicans Frame Deregulation as Economic Relief
Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, announced the decision alongside Trump and described the 2009 ruling as central to climate policy. Both men framed the revocation as a strike against overbearing federal regulations. Republicans have long argued that bureaucratic rules hinder economic growth. Zeldin said previous climate policies strangled entire sectors of the US economy. He called the rollback the largest act of deregulation in US history.
Democrats and Environmental Groups React With Anger
The rollback triggered strong criticism from Democrats and environmental groups who warned it would undermine efforts to combat climate change. Former President Barack Obama wrote that the decision would make Americans less safe and healthy and benefit fossil fuel companies. Trump reversed numerous Obama-era energy and environmental regulations during his first term. He also withdrew the United States from the Paris climate accord, which aims to reduce emissions and address climate impacts.
Trump repeated the withdrawal at the start of his second term and reversed Biden’s decision to rejoin the pact. Climate policy in the United States has swung sharply depending on who occupies the White House. The announcement on Thursday marked Trump’s largest effort yet to dismantle policies introduced by Democratic administrations. It revived campaign battles over the Green New Deal and broader environmental reforms.
Political Risks Ahead of Midterm Elections
Whether climate rollbacks will help Republicans win votes in the midterm elections remains uncertain. These elections will decide control of Congress for the rest of Trump’s term. Climate rarely ranked as a top voter priority in the 2024 election, while the economy and cost of living dominated exit polls. Trump argued the rollback would save consumers thousands of dollars when buying a new car. Environmentalists questioned this claim and expressed scepticism.
Trump and many Republicans said Democratic climate policies are extreme and disconnected from public opinion. Opinion polls, however, show growing concern about global warming among Americans. A 2024 study found that 63 percent of Americans worry about global warming. A 2025 poll showed 48 percent believe global warming will pose a serious threat during their lifetime.
Trump Dismisses Public Opinion Concerns
At the White House, Trump dismissed questions about whether the decision could prove unpopular. He argued the country would benefit from removing past climate regulations. He said that era was finished and would not return.
