Newsom to Trump: ‘Climate change is real’
California Governor Gavin Newsom confronted President Trump’s position on climate change, saying “climate change is real” amid wildfires that have overtaken parts of the state.
Video Transcript
GAVIN NEWSOM: We obviously feel very strongly that the hots are getting hotter, the dries are getting drier. When we're having heat domes the likes of which we've never seen in our history, the hottest August ever in the history of the state, the ferocity of these fires, the drought five-plus years, losing 163 million trees to that drought, something's happened to the plumbing of the world. And we come from a perspective, humbly, where we submit the science is in, and observed evidence is self-evident that climate change is real. And that is exacerbating this.
And so I think there is an area of at least commonality on vegetation and forest management. But please respect-- and I know you do-- the difference of opinion out here as it relates to this fundamental issue on the issue of climate change.
DONALD TRUMP: Absolutely.
GAVIN NEWSOM: Appreciate that.
DONALD TRUMP: Tom, please.
- Yeah, well, from our perspective, there is amazing partnership on the ground. And there needs to be. As the governor said, we've had temperatures explode this summer. You may have learned that we broke a world record in the Death Valley, 130 degrees, but even in greater LA, 120-plus degrees. And we're seeing this warming trend make our summers warmer, but also our winters warmer as well.
So I think one area of mutual agreement and priority is vegetation management. But I think we want to work with you to really recognize the changing climate and what it means to our forests, and actually work together with that science. That science is going to be key. Because if we ignore that science, and sort of put our head in the sand, and think it's all about vegetation management, we're not going to succeed together protecting Californians.
DONALD TRUMP: OK. It'll start getting cooler.
- I wish--
DONALD TRUMP: You just-- you just watch.
- I wish science agreed with you.
DONALD TRUMP: Well, I don't think science knows, actually. Tom, please.
