Climate Science Misrepresented by President Trump

Climate Science Misrepresented by President Trump

In his first international television appearance since taking office, aired on ITV on January 28, 2018, President Trump questioned the scientific consensus on climate change. In particular, President Trump challenged the scientific data showing that global temperatures are increasing, stating:

“There is a cooling, and there’s a heating. I mean, look, it used to not be climate change, it used to be global warming. Right . . . That wasn’t working too well because it was getting too cold all over the place.”

President Trump also made incorrect statements regarding sea ice cover. While scientists have indicated that the Arctic and Antarctica saw record lows for sea ice in 2017, President Trump suggested that sea ice cover is expanding, stating:

“The ice caps were going to melt, they were going to be gone by now, but now they’re setting records, so OK, they’re at a record level.”