California Governor Gavin Newsom posted a video on X in which he said the Trump administration has made the United States the only country to turn its back on international climate work, while California is “picking up the slack” and will continue to lead. The clip, recorded as Newsom attended a UN climate conference, prompted online users to question the state’s climate results and call the governor’s claims hypocritical, with many labeling the broader agenda a “scam” or “grift.”
In the clip, Newsom speaks to a group of people holding microphones and phones in what appears to be a conference setting. He says, “It’s pretty remarkable that we are the only country in the world that turned our back, but we will be back unquestionably in two years.”
He continues, “But I want folks to also know that we’ve never turned our back in terms of the work at a subnational level in the country. We’re still grinding away; we’re still leading, but again, not necessarily, obviously, in Washington, D.C but on the ground in states all across America.” The footage does not show the full context of the gathering or any interactions before or after the remarks.
The accompanying post text states that the Trump administration “has made America the only country in the world to turn its back on international climate work, and California is picking up the slack,” adding that the state “will continue to lead the nation while Trump falls behind.”
Newsom has been attending the UN climate conference known as COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, according to state government announcements, though the video itself does not specify the exact location or date of the recording.
Online Reactions to Newsom’s Climate Leadership Claims
Many users dismissed the climate claims outright. One wrote, “Climate change is a scam.” Another said, “Climate change is another money laundering scam, but you already knew that,” while a third called it “the biggest grift for over 50 years.”
Others focused on the effects of Newsom’s policies in California. One commenter wrote, “STFU, you’re bankrupting the California middle class with your climate BS.”
Another stated, “Sit down and STFU, Gavin… Your state is an ecological disaster.”
Some replies pointed to past actions as evidence of hypocrisy. One user wrote, “Remember when Newscum skipped a climate conference, and everyone thought he had COVID, but it turned out he just went to party with an oil billionaire family? It’s all fake with this *expletive*.”
Newsom’s remarks add another moment to the ongoing debate over U.S. climate policy and California’s role as the federal government steps back from international agreements. The exchange continues to draw differing views online about the state’s record and the broader approach.
